KUALA LUMPUR: A MASSIVE rally is expected to be held in Batu Caves on Friday to pressure the authorities to stop the construction of a 29-storey condominium in the limestone hill area.
The protest, to be led by Sri Mahamariamman Batu Caves Temple committee president Datuk R. Nadarajah, is expected to attract about 100,000 people.
"This is a matter that concerns the public deeply and I am taking this issue seriously."
He encouraged the public to take part and voice their frustrations against the new development.
The peaceful protest is scheduled to begin at 10am.
Nadarajah agreed with MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel who had on Sunday said the Selangor government and the relevant authorities should immediately halt the building of the condominium.
Palanivel had also urged the Minerals and Geoscience Department to conduct a study of the entire Batu Caves area.
The issue was brought to light after registration for the high-rise was recently opened on property websites.
The serviced 474 unit-condominium is advertised to be located "a stone's throw" from Batu Caves.
Nadarajah had also sent several letters of protest mainly to the Selangor menteri besar and state exco members Ronnie Liu and Dr Xavier Jayakumar.
"If they do not respond by next Monday, I will be forced to seek further action," he said, not discounting a legal action.
Liu and Selayang Municipal Council president Datuk Zainal Abidin Aala will be visiting the site at noon today.
Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya Geology department head Associate Professor Datuk Mohamad Ali Hassan said a study must be conducted to determine the lithology of rocks in the vicinity before any development could take place.
"Depending on the metamorphism of the rock, it can be determined if the limestones at Batu Caves are fragile and overburdened.
Ali also said Batu Caves was a historical and religious site which needed to be preserved rather than rushed into urban modernisation.
Batu Caves Zone 15 residents' committee council member N. Gopalan Krishnan Rajoo also said many residents objected to the new development.
He said it was a high-density area, especially since the temple was situated nearby.
"Parking is difficult and traffic can get congested. It is dangerous to continue with the project and there are plenty of residential areas with a school nearby.
"We do not want to risk doing further damage to the hills which can be hazardous to the public."
The developer, Dolomite Corporation Berhad, could not be reached for comment.
Dolomite Industries Co Sdn Bhd had owned a limestone quarry at Batu Caves, which had a lease until 1991, but was shut down in the mid-1980s following pressure from various parties.

is it worth the risk ??

Two of my clients made a booking on this property recently & they're not bothered much by this news.

The way I see this issue is as follows;

1. Politically motivated - BN approved this project in Y2007 hence why is MIC raising this issues now when they should have done so in Y2007.

2. If the high structure of statue is going to be destabilized by the construction then either

a) there shouldn't be any high rises in this area (including Amara etc) or

b) the construction of the statute is not done properly (maybe that's what the temple person is worried about since it'll spell trouble to him later on)

3. Some level of interest in the land owned by this developer since the temple committee can occupy it at a cheaper cost if the project gets canceled & pressure the developer to sell it to them.

4. Modern construction methods to be used means less intrusion impact to tall structures eg. since KLCC has seen so many high rises being built around it despite being the icon of Malaysia in the recent years.

Of course investments such as this one comes with risks so it boils down to what's your risk appetite & strategy.

Cheers,

HH