Dec 30, 2009

Residents divided over plans for Subang Ria park

Green lung: Part of the Subang Ria Park in Subang Jaya.

A topic close to the hearts of Subang Jaya residents is the proposed development of Subang Ria Park.

Once a source of pride, the 29.39ha park park is now in a sorry state.

In July, the developer, Sime Darby Property Bhd, announced its intention to upgrade and develop the park but the plan drew strong opposition from the residents who were adamant that the park should be maintained as a green lung.

Sime Darby had tried to explain — through the media as well as on the website http://www.tamansubangria.org — that only 22% of the park would be replaced by 180 resort condominium villas and 70 studio apartments.

It also promised that about RM20mil would be spent to enhance the 29.39ha park with facilities such as an outdoor amphitheatre, 305 parking lots, toilets, bicycle track, car park, children’s play area, night-lighting and CCTV cameras.

From the feedback on the website, the residents’ views are divided.

Some are dead set against the development and insist that the developer has failed to maintain the park all these years while some welcome the plan in the hope of getting a better park.

Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh said a discussion between the Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES), Sime Darby and residents was chaired by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim recently.

“It was to ascertain the ownership of the park and how the 99-year leasehold title went into the hands of Sime Darby.

“The land is only for recreation and if the developer wishes to convert the land use, a public hearing must be called for to get feedback from the residents,” she said.

Yeoh added that the residents were also concerned about the possible traffic problem, judging by the density of the area that consists of hotels, hospital, shoplots and houses.

Another big news that Subang Jaya and Puchong residents received this year is that the LRT is finally coming to the townships.

Although most residents welcome the plan, some insist that it is not the answer to solve the traffic congestion in the area.

For the more vocal Subang Jaya residents, an action group comprising the Residents Committee (JKP) Zones 1and 3, Subang Jaya Residents Association (SJRA), USJ Residents Association (USJRA), Bandar Sunway Residents Association (BSRA), SJ Alert and Association for the Improvement of Mass-Transit (Transit) was formed to get views from the people.

Yeoh said out of the 202 feedback forms received, 134 agreed to the extension but wanted more details from Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd and Department of Railways (DoR).

Among the concerns they raised were:

·the route does not cover highly populated areas such as SS15 and SS13;

·Bandar Sunway has hotels, shopping mall and colleges but it is not included in the plan;

·there are too many stations along Persiaran Kewajipan, but there is none at Taipan;

·insufficient park-and-ride facilities and this might lead to indiscriminate parking that thus traffic congestion;

·noise pollution and sound pollultion;

·the need for a complete feeder bus system so that commuters do not have to drive to LRT stations;

On the other hand, those who disagreed with the extension felt that the route is too short for a RM7bil project. The other reasons included:

·the route does not cover USJ 1, where low-cost flats are located;

·Persiaran Kewajipan is congested and the LRT extension would only worsen the jam;

·improvement on the current public transportation is sufficient to solve traffic congestion; and

·disturb the peaceful environment.

Putra Heights residents also said a firm no to the plan, citing reasons that the route runs along a 5kV power line and the extension will disrupt the low-density and quietness that they now enjoy.

“There was never a proper briefing by the relevant departments. I want the Transport Ministry, DoR and Prasarana to take the residents’ views seriously and address their concerns at a public hearing,” Yeoh said.