Rules are for some only!

1. After seeing the massive landslide that affects us in BA, the subject of hillside development has become my obsession. I have become more sensitive to the environment that I lived in and observed every single little clue that point to the presence of some risk. I get agitated on many occasions because I find the NGO’s and authorities are slow in their actions. On occasions my approach is frontal and brutal. What interest me is that what to be done needs should be done.
   

    

2. I believe it was in April 2009, I attended the very first session on public briefing by the Selangor State Government (SSG) held at the SUK which was chaired by the MB. The director of JPBD, Dato Jaafar talks at length about new guidelines in slope developments where it is design to create a safer living environment. The event was attended by developers, state officers, REHDA and state Exeo’s and MP’s.
   

    

3. In that meeting, I spoke at length about the concern of the people in the street. Among others I mentioned about the public distrust of the government and government machinery like MPAJ. I raised the issue where officers can manipulate the system.
   

    

4. Ronnie Liu misunderstood me at that time and asked me which government I was referring to and I told him I was referring to both and the government machinery. Dr Xavier defended the argument that I had raised. I was assured that with new guidelines all loopholes will be addressed. This is the promise given to me by the MB and Dato Jaafar. In my heart, I whispered; Yeah! Right!
   

    

5. In early 2010, after the completion of the BA mosque the “Mosque Development Committee” (MDC) which has more than RM1.8 mill in their coffers toy with the idea of building 10 units of houses within the tight mosque compound. The money was collected over the years via donation solicited from the public, residents and fun raising activities with the publicity that it is to be used to build the BA mosque. Two years ago the construction of the mosque was completed with funding from JAIS and not a single cent of the money in this coffer went into the construction of the mosque.
   

    

6. In March 2010, MPAJ puts up an empty signage at the entrance of the mosque where it is seeking a public opinion from neighboring plots. The board carries no dates or file reference numbers. The signage was empty for months. Two days ago, I saw the board was filled with reference number of the applicant and the closing date of any objection was set to be at 17/8/2010.
   

    

7. Yesterday, I called MPAJ and I was informed that the application has been approved on 20/7/2010. It is amazing how efficient MPAJ can be when it can approve an application within days after the closing date of any objections and they take a month to reply a simple letter. I checked around with several surrounding neighbors and no one had received any notices from MPAJ.
   

    

8. It really pisses me off. This is a case where it again proves that MPAJ cannot be trusted in their ability to carry a professional job in a just manner. This is exactly opposite what the MB and Dato Jaafar promised me. In this one instances alone, a public consultation process was deliberately sidelined. At least several procedures and guidelines was NOT ADHERED to. This includes zoning laws 2008, JPBD guidelines on slope developments and JPBD guidelines on residential development.
   

    

9. Now an approval has been given to the construction of 10 unit houses in a Class III area and which is located less than 20 feet from a Class III and Class IV slope. The land area is zoned for public facilities. The land space itself is inadequate to meet the current usage and yet they want to put up 10 units of houses. In the last two days, I have gone on a frontal assault with MPAJ and raising hell at LPHS, JPBD and MB office. I promised this will not be the end. I will fight till the end. What is wrong cannot be allowed. Resident safety is paramount. I will not allow a group of people who wants to spent RM1.8 mill to put people’s safety at risk.
   

    

   While this is going on, the very people that runs an NGO that claims to be the champion and custodian of hill slope safety has chosen to be silent. An active PKR group in BA and the local council member has also been quiet. Both appear to be protecting their rice bowl as well as the political impact. Both do not want to put a stand on the matter even though MPAJ is wrong. Why is that usually they would paste a pictorial activity in residents yahoo groups to publicize their response when a tree fell or even go and see a hole in the middle of the night but was very silent on this matter?
   

    

   Maybe they just do not want to offend MPAJ and the MBA committee to ensure that they will continue to profit from contracts from MPAJ. Maybe because it is a request from a mosque, they don’t want to appear as a bad guy by challenging the approval given by MPAJ. Maybe it is a politically sensitive area. Personally, I feel this people have betrayed the people of BA and should not hold office. There is a clear conflict of interest here. People with personal interest should never be allowed to look after community interest. I was told that even COBARA office bearers have not reacted adequately.
   

    

   
   

    

   When was this details filled? Was it after approval was given ? How is it none of the bordering residents knows about this?