The long wait

Many residents in BK 3 are losing their patience with SPNB (Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad), especially when they saw some LRT track preliminary work had started in our area.

A big pile of sand at green lung area, and some digging work

There were drilling frames for soil investigation work at our area for quite some time now. At certain areas the workers had even started to do some digging work to lay the underground cables.

Cable laying work

This morning there was a land surveyor doing some surveying at the green lung area. Obviously he was doing some surveying work for the new LRT extension.

Land surveyor doing work and soil investigation work

The residents had actually met and talked to SPNB three times since the LRT track and station no. 5 issues arose.

Just a few days ago SPNB had told us their consultants are finalizing their alternative proposals with a few options regarding realignment of LRT track and possible relocation of station no. 5.

SPNB had given us assurance no actual construction work will begin until our issues are settled.

We were also told SPNB will submit their proposals to MPSJ some time next week. After which a meeting will be held between BK 3 residents, SPNB and MPSJ to discuss the issues. Eventually MPSJ will have the final say on all the proposals.

There is still a long way to go...

Work on LRT started in BK 3?

Some of the residents may be wondering when they see workers starting to do some work at BK 3 area. Has work on LRT started?

Soil testing in front of "Tak Nak LRT station 5" poster

The workers are actually doing some soil investigation to estimate the depth of piles required for LRT construction work. It is some kind of preliminary work to any type of construction.

So it a way, yes, the construction work has started for the new LRT extension.

Many residents may also notice some tents set up by the workers. The workers are actually "camping" at our area while doing their work.

Temporary "homes" set up by workers at the playground

At the "camp site" the Bangladeshi workers cook and eat their meals, take bath, wash and hang their clothes between the trees to dry. I don't know how people can live in such a condition, but this is how some of the foreign workers are treated in our country, while trying to make our lives better.

Camp site?

The talk between SPNB (Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad) and the residents is still on. While the residents are still waiting for an answer from them regarding our concern, one has to wonder if they have quietly gone ahead and stick to their original plan.

Let's hope that is not the case.

Just say "NO"

Everyone wants the convenience of a LRT station close to their area. I imagine the residents in BK 3 feel the same way. However, the convenience of having a LRT station here comes with a price.

When the LRT track runs through BK 3, it will encroach into our green lung area, and station no. 5 will be right at our door steps. I have no idea why the planner or designer decided to do it that way. Obviously not much thought was put into considering the effect of all these to the residents around that area.

If the plan materialized, the negative impacts will be there. All the social ills, security problems, traffic congestion, parking woes and noise pollutions that are common to commercial area will eventually be part of our lives here in BK 3.

In fact, BK 3 will be turned into a public area. It will definitely become more like a commercial area than a residential area. 

Posters put up by residents

Some residents have already started an awareness campaign to let everyone understand the problem. We all know that with the support of the residents, something can still be done.

We are not really against the LRT line extension. It is just not right to put so little thought into planning a project of such magnitude, that affects people's life in a negative way. Better options are clearly available.

The LRT track should be realigned away from our green lung area, to the middle of Bukit Jalil highway. The trees at green lung area actually act as a buffer zone that cut off the noise and dust pollution from Bukit Jalil highway. They should be preserved.

We also don't need station no. 5 in our area. If the residents need to use the LRT, station no. 4 in BK 2 is just walking distance away. There is really no reason to have two stations so close to each other right at our area. It is a waste of tax payers' money.

Realignment of tracks and relocation of station no. 5

If station no. 5 is to be constructed, we think it will be better if it is relocated further down the highway towards IOI direction. That way the station can cater to more passengers from housings like Puchong Jaya, Taman Tenaga and so on, without directly affecting any of the residential areas.

The concern was also recently raised up and reported in several news papers like The Star and Sin Chew daily.

Some residents have in fact met and carried out a dialogue with Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (SPNB) regarding our concern. SPNB had also visited our area to understand our problem.

They have promised to restudy the whole thing and give an answer to the residents in a few weeks time. So far however there is still no reply from them.

We certainly hope that SPNB can give us a satisfactory answer. Only then we can ensure BK 3 remain the way it is, a quiet and peaceful neighbourhood. 

At this moment we can only wait with our fingers crossed, praying for the best.