THE Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) project has certainly been the talk of many angry Petaling Jaya (PJ) residents these past two months. There has been much debate for and against the project. Its concessionaire Kidex Sdn Bhd says it will ease traffic congestion in PJ and have spillover economic benefits. PJ residents however fear increased noise, […]
petaling jaya
Changing land titles: Of ‘long stories’ and anomalies
Ampersand by KW Mak
ONE of the great mysteries of urban development and local governance is how land titles change. Such is the case of a plot in Taman Aman, Petaling Jaya. Former MBPJ councillor KW MAK traces the issue.
Who cares about green lungs?
As If Earth Matters by Gan Pei Ling
LIVING near green spaces can raise our levels of happiness and quality of life. Then why do our urban green spaces keep shrinking in the name of development? What is the responsibility of residents in making sure this doesn’t happen?
Can MBPJ’s promises be believed?
Ampersand by KW Mak
Buyers of an abandoned low-cost housing project were recently told that MBPJ would solve their woes by reclaiming the land, developing the project, and selling it at half price. This sounds like great news, but will it be so straightforward for MBPJ to save the day? Or will buyers be faced with more hurdles?
Renewing Petaling Jaya leasehold titles
Ampersand by KW Mak
IN June 2011, the Selangor government promised Petaling Jaya Old Town house owners they could renew their 99-year leasehold land titles for a mere RM1,000. What has become of this promise? And more importantly, is the renewal of leasehold land titles legal?
Crowded cities: What happened to the open-space policy?
Ampersand by KW Mak
The open space policy is meant to prevent overdevelopment and to provide for social-infrastructural facilities. It is a good mechanism to ensure the nation’s social needs are prioritised, but it is not being implemented.
Consequences of MBPJ ignoring its own rules
Ampersand by KW Mak
What happens when MBPJ ignores its own rules on development in Petaling Jaya? It’s no use ignoring the problems, says former councillor KW Mak, as eventually everyone will end up having to pay.
What’s the price of PJ’s development?
Ampersand by KW Mak
IF we think the price of development is traffic jams, we are mistaken. That isn’t the only price people have to pay for so-called progress in the city. The question is, will PJ residents continue to pay the price for development in their city or can measures be taken to avoid these hidden costs?
Unclogging PJ’s drains
Ampersand by KW Mak
BROKEN and clogged drains are common complaints in Petaling Jaya. Often, members of the public have to complain for the umpteenth time before the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) shows up to repair their broken drains. It would be reasonable for the public to wonder why they even need to complain before drains are repaired. […]
PJ leaseholders possibly entitled to freehold titles
Ampersand by KW Mak
I HAD previously raised the issue of leasehold titles in Petaling Jaya (PJ) possibly being invalid and house owners being entitled to freehold titles based on historical records. The Section 4 Rukun Tetangga committee subsequently held a signature campaign and wrote to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for an appointment to resolve the […]
