PUCHONG folk are calling for Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han to clarify details of a proposed development project located adjacent to the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, involving approximately 68.411ha of land earmarked for mixed-use development.
Over 700 residents gathered at Taman Tasik Wawasan in Puchong to protest the project, voicing concerns over potential traffic congestion, environmental risks and the loss of greenery in the already-dense township.
Pusat Bandar Puchong Residents Association deputy chairman Awies Ung said the project, situated near the forest reserve, had prompted widespread worry among neighbourhoods in Bandar Kinrara, Bandar Puchong Jaya, Pusat Bandar Puchong (Taman Wawasan) and Bandar Puteri.
He said the project consultant had reached out to several residents’ associations on Nov 11 to conduct a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) as part of the planning process. Still, residents had yet to receive any clear explanation from the elected representative or local authorities regarding the scope and impact.
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Preliminary documents shared during the SIA process showed that the proposed site sits beside the Islamic Burial Site, fronting SJK(C) Kheng Chee and stretching towards Sri Kesidang, Rimba Residence and Puncak Kinrara B apartments.
The development reportedly involves 16 plots with blocks and 54 units of shop lots, comprising 2,724 condominium units, including 1,091 Rumah SelangorKu affordable homes.
Each plot would range from 3 to 17 storeys, with 8 to 24 units per floor. Based on the average household size in Mukim Petaling, the project could attract more than 10,000 residents upon completion.
Bandar Puteri 9 Residents Association secretary Kathryn Wong said a section of the retaining wall near Puteri 9 had collapsed in 2011, and she fears that the new project, located right beside the repaired structure, could be affected.
“It was discovered then that there are underground water channels beneath the forest and the proposed development site, which raises concerns about potential ground instability if large-scale construction takes place,” she said.
“It was found that there were underground rivers underneath the forest and the proposed development site, which we fear could affect the ground.
Also attending the gathering were former Local Government Committee Chairman Ronnie Liu and Former Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) Councillor Awtar Singh.
Liu, in his speech, advised residents that they would need the total support of the Kinrara Assemblyman and the MP for the state government to regazette the forest.
In a statement issued before the gathering, Ng Sze Han said his office understood the concerns raised by residents in Taman Wawasan, Bandar Puteri, Bandar Kinrara and Bandar Puchong Jaya regarding the SIA conducted by the landowner on the lot adjacent to Hutan Simpan Ayer Hitam (Bukit Wawasan).
He clarified that the land in question does not form part of the forest reserve, whether under the supervision of the Selangor Forestry Department or Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Sultan Idris Shah Forestry Education Centre (SISFEC), which covers 1,176ha.
Ng said MBSJ had not received any development application from the landowner to date, explaining that the SIA is a preliminary requirement before any submission can be made to the council.
He added that he had informed MBSJ that the earlier online FGD session could not be accepted as part of the official SIA process, and that a physical FGD session must be held to ensure clear, transparent dialogue with all affected residents, including hikers who use Bukit Wawasan for recreational activities.
Ng said he had encouraged residents to voice their objections, concerns and suggestions directly to the landowner or consultant so that their feedback could be formally recorded in the SIA report.
He also acknowledged the protest held at Taman Wawasan and expressed hope that the event would proceed smoothly and in an orderly manner.
Residents have since called on MBSJ and the relevant state agencies to make all assessment reports, including the SIA, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) publicly accessible before any planning approval is granted. They said the move is necessary to ensure transparency and accountability, given the project’s proximity to the forest reserve and the scale of its potential impact on the local environment and traffic conditions.
source: Puchong residents rally against proposed development next to Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve | The Star
2025-11-24T02:59:00Z