Post date: Jun 22, 2010 12:56:16 PM
Oktober 1, 2007 – Monday
By K.W. MAK
RESIDENTIAL houses along Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya, are still being converted into business premises, according to the Section 12 Residents Association.
The association has objected to such a move, pointing out that the conversion was in violation of the guidelines stated in the PJ Local Draft Plan.
In the latest case of conversion, the residents association had requested to the PJ City Hall (MBPJ) to take action on the owner of a bungalow along Jalan Universiti that had been turned into a car showroom since December last year.
Among the guidelines in the PJ Local Draft Plan on using residential buildings for commercial purposes are two clauses stating that the building’s original facade must be retained and that permission from the neighbours is required.
According to the residents association, both requirements were not met in the case of the motor showroom.
The association sent a complaint letter to the MBPJ on Wednesday morning, with a copy forwarded to the Anti-Corruption Agency, to question about its inaction in taking action on the owner of the bungalow for using it as a business premise.
The letter gave the MBPJ two weeks to respond, failing which legal action would be instituted against it.
“The original building was knocked down on Oct 5 last year and we have since written to the MBPJ to say that it should not allow the building to be used for commercial activities because it violates several requirements of the PJ Local Draft Plan,” said Section 12 Residents Association vice-chairman Harpajan Singh.
Harpajan said the association had taken pictures of the development of the premise from a bungalow into a motor showroom.
He said that the original building was a two-storey bungalow and the MBPJ, in a reply to an earlier complaint by residents, had confirmed that the certificate of fitness issued for the rebuilt unit was for a “residential bungalow”.
Association chairman R. Rajasoorian said that the car dealer had started using the premise to showcase luxury cars.
“The company is also using Jalan 12/3, a residential road, to move its cars in and out of the premise,” he said.