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Sunday, October 5, 2014

DAP, PKR may incur wrath of voters over PJ local plan, say lawmakers

Petaling Jaya residents at an anti-Kidex briefing. Lawmakers in Selangor say councils must pay heed to residents’ demands, particularly when it comes to quality of life issues. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 5, 2014. Petaling Jaya residents at an anti-Kidex briefing. Lawmakers in Selangor say councils must pay heed to residents’ demands, particularly when it comes to quality of life issues. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 5, 2014. 
Pakatan Rakyat risks losing four parliamentary and six state seats covered by the Petaling Jaya City Council in Selangor if the current local plan proposed by the local authorities fails to meet the aspirations of residents, a lawmaker said.
Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah said Petaling Jaya residents, who were also voters, could punish PKR and DAP candidates in the next general election if development and infrastructure plans had an adverse effect on their quality of life.
Sivarasa, however, expressed confidence that newly appointed Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali and his executive councillors would be sensitive to the feelings and hopes of Petaling Jaya residents.
The elected representatives are Sivarasa, Hee Loy Sian (Petaling Jaya Selatan MP), Tony Pua (Petaling Jaya Utara MP), Wong Chen (Kelana Jaya MP), and assemblymen Rajiv Rishyakaran (Bukit Gasing), Haniza Talha (Taman Medan), Lau Weng San (Kampung Tunku), Yeo Bee Yin (Damansara Utama), Elizabeth Wong (Bukit Lanjan) and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Seri Setia).
All are from DAP and PKR, which along with PAS make up the government in Selangor.
Sivarasa said the proposals to remove wholesale all existing detailed guidelines for planning control from both RTPJ1 and 2 were a cause for concern.
"There is a perception that Petaling Jaya is overdeveloped and the roads are congested and this will affect the lives of those living there," he told The Malaysian Insider.
Sivarasa, whose constituency covered about 40% of the local government area, said the councillors only wanted to review the controversial aspects of the amendments and re-table them within three months.
He said the review would be done in consultation with the state government and take into account feedback given so far in the roadshow conducted by the local authorities in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1976.
“The MPs and assemblymen will also provide their input to the plan as required by voters who are also residents and ratepayers."
He said Petaling Jaya residents were highly educated and were aware their rights.
"We must respond to their needs or else it could be a problem in the next election," he added.
However, mayor Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad had insisted on going ahead with the controversial changes to the city’s blueprint although opposed by 14 of the 17 councillors.
This prompted Pua to question whether Alinah was mayor for the people of Petaling Jaya or another bureaucrat oblivious to the interests of residents.
The mayor has over the past few months persisted in acting independently despite numerous attempts by the councillors to seek a delay or make amendments to the draft plan.
“All earlier requests were largely ignored, culminating in the special full board meeting petitioned by the councillors two days ago,” said Pua in a statement yesterday.
The Selangor DAP chief said it boggled the mind why Alinah was so adamant about pushing through the hastily amended local plan despite the obvious concerns.
A councillor, who spoke to The Malaysian Insider on condition of anonymity, said the 14 councillors who objected to the plan in its present version came from  DAP, PKR and non-governmental organisations.
"It is unfortunate that the three PAS representatives were not with us as the amended plan is against the wellbeing and welfare of the public.”
He said the plan in its current form was tilted towards property developers to make Petaling Jaya a concrete jungle and clogged with traffic.
Former councillor Derek Fernandez, who is an expert on local government procedures, said the Selangor executive council could override the local council's decision as provided under the Town and Country Planning Act.
"However, the councillors had acted within their powers to revoke the proposed amendments if it is in the public interest to do so," said Fernandez, who is a lawyer.
He said the plans had serious weaknesses that would affect the public's quality of life and impact negatively on the environment and infrastructure. 
"If the council does not review the plans, it will be looked at very badly by the public because of clear deficiencies.”
Selangor DAP deputy chief Gobind Singh Deo said the Petaling Jaya case showed that those in authority must be sensitive to the needs and aspiration of the local population.
"As the state government in power we cannot take the support of the people for granted. They can use the power of the ballot to send a strong message," he said.
Gobind, who is the party's national legal bureau head and Puchong MP, said all local governments in Selangor and elsewhere in the country should take notice that ratepayers must be consulted in formulating local plans.
"Local residents may not have the opportunity to elect their local councillors but those in authority can no longer take a lackadaisical attitude in approving plans that go against the wishes of ratepayers.”
- TMI

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