KUALA LUMPUR - Longtime residents of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) are calling for a halt to further development, with the township’s residents’ association chairman stressing that the 50-year-old neighbourhood should be preserved rather than expanded.
TTDI residents' association chairman Abdul Jabar Ahmad Junid, 58, said there is no longer a need for new projects in the area.
“Taman Tun is already 50 years old. I feel there is no more space suitable for development.
“What we have now is sufficient. We are happy and everyone here is happy,” he told Sinar Daily.
His remarks come after a recent flooding incident that went viral, showing muddy water surging onto Jalan Abang Haji Openg following a structural failure at a nearby construction site.
Jabar said the flooding began when water rushed down from the hills above the site after a retaining structure collapsed.
“The water flowed down from the hills. The wall had already collapsed and they put canvas to cover everything,” he said.
The project, he claimed, falls under the National Landscape Department, with construction handled by the Public Works Department (JKR).
While water levels on the road reached only about three to four inches, Jabar said the speed of the flow was the main concern.
The collapse, he added, occurred during strong winds, which cracked the structure and led to the failure of the runoff management system.
Although the worst impact was directly in front of the site, nearby homes were also affected.
“About five houses were affected because the water flowed in that direction. The first 10 houses out of 74 in the area were severely affected.
“Water entered their porches. This never happened before,” he said.
He noted that the incident was not isolated, revealing that the holding structure had overflowed multiple times before.
“Water overflowed from the holding area three times already. The drain cannot handle water from both outside and inside. When everything flows in, it becomes a problem,” he said, adding that drainage limitations have long contributed to flooding issues in TTDI.
Despite raising concerns with city authorities and JKR, Jabar said earlier assurances that the drainage system was sufficient proved otherwise.
“They said it should not be a problem. But actually, it is. I’ve been here 48 years and I know what happens here,” he said.
Following the April 18 incident, multiple agencies including the Fire and Rescue Department, police, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and JKR were deployed to the scene.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) and Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh also visited the site, with immediate instructions issued to stabilise the area.
“That night, when Yeoh arrived, they immediately began clearing the area,” he said.
A meeting involving the mayor and relevant authorities was held the next morning, followed by a site inspection.
Authorities have since proposed building three detention ponds to better manage water flow and reduce future overflow risks.
“They said they will build three detention ponds so the water flow can be staggered. Hopefully, it works,” he added.
Despite these measures, residents remain concerned — particularly over the risk of landslides.
“We can manage flooding, but landslides are my biggest fear. Property can be replaced — lives cannot,” he said.
He added that residents have been checking on one another during heavy rain, especially elderly neighbours living alone.
“When there is heavy rain or storms, we go and check on them. Sometimes they get scared and call their children,” he said.
Jabar also expressed frustration over how the project has been carried out, claiming initial assurances were not followed.
“They said they would cut trees gradually, but instead they cleared everything at once. That’s when the problems started,” he said.
The project, which began in August last year and is scheduled for completion in 2027, has faced strong opposition from residents.
“Residents are reaching their limit. Their patience is very thin now. If it happens again, we will push to shut the project down completely,” he said.
He also raised broader concerns about continued development in Bukit Kiara, describing it as one of Kuala Lumpur’s last remaining green lungs.
“There are plans for another project and we are objecting to it. This forest area is one of the last in Kuala Lumpur, please don’t destroy it,” he said.