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The Star
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
KL local plan to be gazetted June 11
Open-day sessions were held for the draft KLLP 2040 earlier in May. — Filepic Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP 2040) will be gazetted on June 11, despite unhappiness expressed by some stakeholders. The Federal Government Gazette on the adoption of the draft local plan with modifications for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur was published on May 28 by the Attorney General's Chambers. It stated that the revised draft KLLP 2040 was received by the mayor on May 5 and would come into operation on June 11. KLLP 2040 contains written statements detailing objectives and proposals for developments, land use, socioeconomic planning and traffic management in the capital. When contacted by StarMetro, lawyer Deva Kunjari Sambanthan said KLLP 2040 had failed to safeguard against future commercial developments around the Vivekananda Ashram in Brickfields. 'Despite significant public objections, the ashram has continued to be categorised as 'main commercial'. 'This issue has been made known to regulators and the government repeatedly for more than 20 years,' she said. Deva Kunjari said the ashram should be categorised as 'public facilities' in recognition of its heritage value as it is a Category 1 Heritage Building under National Heritage Act 2005. Bangsar resident Ratnasothy Kandiah expressed concerns about new strata developments sprouting around Jalan Abdullah. 'A 62-storey building is currently under construction behind my two-storey house,' she added. Fellow resident Mooi Lau Chan said many homeowners in Kuala Lumpur were affected by noise pollution and loss of privacy. KLLP 2040 was adopted in accordance with sections 16 and 17 of Federal Territory (Planning) Act 1982 (Act 267). Copies can be downloaded from Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) website, and inspected or purchased during office hours at DBKL Urban Planning Department at Menara DBKL 1 from June 11. DBKL held open-day sessions for the revised draft KLLP 2040 from May 7 to 9. For details, visit
The Star
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Vivekananda Ashram land zoned as ‘main commercial' under KL local plan
The public can check the draft KLLP 2040 at Menara DBKL 1 until May 9. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star THE Brickfields area where the Vivekananda Ashram is located is still zoned as 'main commercial' under the revised draft of the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan (KLLP) 2040. The Save Vivekananda Ashram Brickfields (SVAB) action group expressed its disappointment that its request for the ashram area to be zoned as a public community facility was not taken into account when the revised plan was drafted. Lawyer Deva Kunjari Sambanthan, who is among those advocating for the iconic landmark's preservation, said the group was worried that the land where the ashram is sited could be designated for development in the future. 'The area is zoned as 'main commercial', the second highest in terms of allowed density. 'Although Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers responded to our queries saying that the site will be protected since the Vivekananda Ashram is classified as a 'Category 1 Heritage Building' under the National Heritage Act (Act 645), we are not convinced. 'It should be maintained as a public community facility zone so that no development will take place in that area,' she said. Lucky Garden resident P. Tamilwanan said they were concerned about the possibility of heritage buildings being degazetted. 'We do not feel comfortable about this. We do not want to allow any room for development to take place,' he said. DBKL is holding open-day sessions until May 9 from 9.30am to 4.30pm on the KLLP 2040 draft. Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said, 'We have gone through the necessary steps, including going through public participation and holding hearings. 'The Prime Minister has also been briefed about the plan. 'We plan to launch and gazette the KLLP 2040 this month,' she told StarMetro. 'This open day is to inform the public about the draft plan and its changes. 'The public can see if their feedback was taken into consideration in the draft plan as well as the reasons why certain changes were not incorporated. 'We want to increase DBKL's transparency and accountability,' Maimunah added. Residential groups, architects and town planners as well as other stakeholders had come on the first day to see the finalised plan. Some accepted the changes of the finalised plan while others expressed disappointment. Lembah Pantai Federal Territories Residents Representative Council (MPPWP) sub-zone 3 secretary Michelles Foo said the draft plan took part of their feedback into consideration. 'I understand that the authorities cannot take into account all feedback from residents but I can see that some of our suggestions have been incorporated into the draft plan,' she said. 'For example, one of the areas in Kampung Kerinchi was earmarked for development in the previous draft but DBKL changed the land use to public community facility,' she added. Former Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan, who was also present at the open day, said more efforts should be made to develop city parks. 'We should have more parks, like Hyde Park in London, to make Kuala Lumpur a liveable city. 'A task force must be established to manage development in the city,' he said. Nor Hisham also suggested Bandar Malaysia be constructed between the Selangor and Perak borders.
