At a joint dialogue between residents of Bukit Antarabangsa and Ukay Heights with MPAJ at their headquarters here this morning to address the two controversial issues of the Ukay Food Court in Bukit Antarabangsa and the mega MAA mixed development project in Ukay Heights, council representatives admitted to discrepancies in their own operating procedures by having allowed the Ukay Food Court to be built despite earlier protests.

When questioned, Awang Mustapha Md Yunus, the council's director of town planning explained that the food court was built to provide an alternative trading spot for 12 illegal food vendors on Bukit Antarabangsa.

At a glance, however, one can easily tell that the food court was designed to accommodate huge crowds, with over 50 food and drink stalls. More like an entertainment hub, than just an eating place, the food court is equipped with big video screens, sound system and a stage for performances.

Residents made objections prior to its construction five years ago, stating environmental, social, hygiene and traffic hazards that the project might pose when in operation but the council was adamant in approving the business, which sits on a previous lush, green lung by a river bank. Based on the 'master plan' for the area, the spot was reserved for a future neighbourhood school.

According to residents, the council lacked foresight in its planning and was insensitive to the community by allowing huge businesses to operate in quiet residential areas, as the food court attracted large crowds into their previously serene neighbourhood.

While I support the government's efforts for sustainable development, I strongly feel that the responsible parties should be careful, sensitive and innovative in their town planning programs, as poorly thought-out developments can have serious environmental and social implications; and residents will be the ones who suffer, not the planners.

When asked, council staff said they were powerless and were merely acting upon instructions from the "higher-ups", but agreed to submit old paperwork in connection with the project for the new state government to scrutinize for any foul play.

By allowing a mega food court that runs 24/7 to operate in a a green and peaceful area like Bukit Antarabangsa makes little sense to me. But I suppose we all operate on different value systems.

As a resident, I would naturally want to save the remaining greens. Enough has already been lost over the years. But others may think otherwise as every inch of the hill is money. Therefore it is a natural business instinct to want to maximize. So how and where do we strike a balance?

In the early days before the development of Ukay Perdana, and due to landslide problems, it was mandatory for an alternative route up and down Bukit Antarabangsa. A site was identified in Taman Mulia, across the river, Sungai Sering, from Taman Kelab Ukay and a road was built to connect the hill with the now Ukay Perdana main road. Then, after a few months, a bridge was built across the river from the end of Jalan Bukit Antarabangsa (main road) that also connects the hill to same Ukay Perdana main road.

Sometimes I wonder if the first road was necessary in the first place. Hundreds of trees were sacrificed and a natural waterfall was lost to facilitate its construction. Now, many motorists use the first road as a second alternative route, causing peace and quiet to be compromised by the Taman Mulia people who live in the few blocks of link houses that now face the road. A case of sheer lack of foresightedness, perhaps? At the expense of the environment.

The dialogue was chaired by State Executive Councillor For Local Government, Ronnie Liu who was accompanied by Zuraida Kamaruddin, MP for Ampang and Elizabeth Wong, Selangor's head of Tourism, Consumer Affairs & The Environment. Wong left almost immediately after participating rather actively in the Ukay Heights discussion, which preceded the Bukit Antarabangsa one. Her absence from previous Bukit Antarabangsa initiatives and her sudden departure from an event as important as this morning's meeting leads me to wonder if she empathized more with the previous crowd.

The session concluded with Liu announcing the new government's aim for a "Greener, Cleaner & Safer Selangor" and by giving mandates to both resident groups to form task forces to investigate and study these controversial projects so that steps could be taken in the positive direction and remedial measures undertaken, in the case of the food court issue.

With the green philosophy promoted by Liu, it looks like there is hope yet for peace and tranquillity to return to Bukit Antarabangsa, when the food court finally vacates the people's land it so shamelessly sits on.