Tug-of-war between longhouse and TTDI residents ahead of public hearing with DBKL

PETALING JAYA: Residents living on a plot of land earmarked for a proposed housing development at Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (TTDI) are delighted that proper accommodation is finally being given to them after 30-odd years.
Its village chief, V. Sundram, said the accommodation will be given free to them after an agreement was reached last year with Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP) and Federal Territories deputy minister Datuk Dr. Loga Bala Mohan.
YWP owns the land which the residents are living on now.
Sundram attributed the success after DAP Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng fought on the residents' behalf and had their case heard to the authorities.
"We have even signed an agreement in September last year with the developer that the first 100 units are to be given free while another 100 units, which is RM350,000 per unit, will be given a 50% discount from its original price.
"This means our future generation, like my daughter, who is married with a family, is eligible for it at RM175,000," he told theSun when contacted today.
However, he reserved further comments on the TTDI Residents Association having objected to proposed service apartments at the Taman Rimba Kiara (TRK) public park.
"We do not mind them protesting, but I do not want to comment further. If the project stops, we will be in trouble (by not having a place to stay).
"However, if DBKL (City Hall) decides to call for a meeting (for the objection against the development near the park), that is another matter. We shall wait and see," he added.
Currently, there are 506 residents living in the longhouses with 100 families.
This scenario may create a tug-of-war between the longhouse residents and TTDI's residents association which has protested against the development on the 12-acre land, claiming a spillover of pollution and the park adjoined to the land will be affected.
Its chairman Abdul Hafiz Abu Bakar had submitted a petition two days ago against the development and stressed that they were not against the longhouse residents' rights.
A public hearing is expected to commence following the Town and Planning Country Act.