End of the road

On 8th August, the was another meeting with Tan Seri Syed Hamid Albar of SPAD, Prasarana, Dato Yap Pian Hon and BK3 protem committee in SPAD's office.

This was the final push with the suggestion of constructing a new ramp exiting from the left lane of Bukit Jalil Highway to BK4 in order for the LRT track to be realigned to the middle of Bukit Jalil Highway.

SPAD, JKR and Prasarana had visited BK3 area the week before to see if there is a possible way for that to happen.

In Prasarana's presentation, they have concluded that the new ramp is not a viable option. It will have temporary as well as permanent problems for the residents of BK3 if materialized.

In fact, the ramp will be closer to the houses than the LRT track. On top of that, time frame, temporary traffic diversion, etc. making that option not possible.
 
SPAD concurred with Prasarana's finding, leaving us no option but to stick to the original plan of having the LRT track at our green lung.

In consolation, Prasarana proposed to install sound barriers next to the track, and beautify the area with landscaping after the construction is completed.

Sound barrier and landscaping proposed by Prasarana

That was the end of discussion.

The protem committee had tried their very best over the last two years to resolve the issue of station no. 5 and realignment of LRT track.

While they managed to get station no. 5 canceled (on hold), they were not able to convince the responsible authorities to realign the LRT track.

They have tirelessly approached MPSJ, Selangor State Government, YB Gobind Singh, and Teresa Kok, Dato Yap Pian Hon, and finally SPAD chairman Tan Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

Yet the answer is still the same every time - nothing can be done about the realignment.

While still not satisfy with the non-solution, there is really nothing more the protem committee can do. They have exhausted every avenue possible trying to get the realignment done.

Therefore the committee feels it is time for it to dissolve. There is really nothing more can be done.

They would like to thank every BK3 residents who offer their support over the past two years. Without your support, station no. 5 would not have been canceled.

If there is any consolation, winning half the battle is better than nothing, life still goes on.

Have a good holiday and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all Muslim friends.

What's next?

With the construction of Ampang LRT line continues, our fight for realignment still hangs in the balance. We have exhausted almost all avenues in our fight, but continue to reach out to the people that can possibly help us to find a solution.

On Tuesday, 4th of July, we finally get another chance.

This time with the help of Dato Yap Pian Hon, we managed to arrange a meeting between Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, chairman of Suruhanjaya Pengakutan Awan Darat (SPAD), Dato Yap, Prasarana and BK3 protem committee members.

Meeting in SPAD's office

We again presented our case with several proposed options for the realignment of the LRT track. However, Prasarana again citing technical and cost as some of the reasons that are preventing them from further pursuing the possibility of realignment.

In addition, some of technical issues also involve possibilities of restructuring the ramp and highway alignment, which fall under the jurisdiction of JKR. All that will probably involve additional funding as well.

Unfortunately, SPAD mentioned that their hands are tied in our realignment issue. They have no say in anything that involves cost. Unless there is instruction from higher authority, there is really nothing much they can do.

They also mentioned we are probably a little late in highlighting this issue, even though we told them since as far back as in 2009, when the project was announced, we have already voiced our concerned. We then continue to highlight the issue again many times since beginning of 2011, when the project was awarded, non stop until now. Most of our correspondences are copied and hand delivered to SPAD as well.

However, SPAD did mention anything is still possible and ask Prasarana to stop cutting the trees at the green lung until this is officially settled.

One thing we must highlight is Prasarana has already obtained all the necessary approvals from all relevant authorities to construct the track at the green lung. In other words, they have the legal right to go ahead with the tree cuttings and construction of the tracks at our green lung.

As with station no. 5, it is still put on hold at this moment, and we hope it remains so forever. For the convenience of BK3 residents, there is a station no. 4 walking distance away at BK2 that can serve our community equally well.

Meanwhile, we will continue to take our fight to the next level.

Press coverage on LRT realignment issue at BK 3, Bandar Kinrara

Some of the press coverage on our action.

The Star

Read the full The Star article here.

China Press

Read the full China Press article here.

Sin Chew Daily

Read the full Sin Chew Daily article here

Nanyang

Read the full Nanyang Daily article here

Prasarana must try harder to realign track from green lung to median!

This morning BK 3 residents came out in full force, urging Prasarana to try harder in order to move the LRT track away from their green lung area to the median.

No one is against the LRT project, the residents just have a simple request.

The message is loud and clear.

SAVE OUR TREES
NO LRT TRACK NEXT TO OUR HOUSES
NO NOISE POLLUTION
GIVE US BACK THE GREEN BUFFER ZONE
RAISE UP STATION 04 & THE TRACK TO CLEAR THE RAMP
LISTEN TO THE 'RAKYAT'

AND.. PRASARANA MUST TRY HARDER TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.

A big "THANK YOU" for all the residents who turned up and showed their support this morning.

Show your support, save our green lung!

After all this while, we still can not be sure if the realignment of the track can be done. Although we manage to get them to cancel station no. 5, that only solves half of our problem. The track will still be running at our green lung. We still want some answers.

Do you need some update? Do you still want to save our green lung?

Show up this Saturday morning at Jalan BK 3/3C to show your support. Reporters will be here to hear what you have to say. We will also try to answer some questions that you might have. Show up with you own placard. Stand up and be counted.

Date: 21st April 2012
Day: Saturday

Location: Jalan BK 3/3C (near pedestrian bridge)

Time: 9:00am sharp

Show your support, save our green lung

As many of you know, some of the trees have been cut to make way for the new LRT track. We have been trying very hard to have them stop temporarily. However, there is no promise that the realignment can be done. The tree cutting exercise may continue again very soon. Are you concern that the trees will be cut? The tracks too close to our homes? Green lung lost forever? Don't let them do this to us. We want our community the way it is.

Stop cutting our trees!

 
Let's show up in full force again to save our green lung. Don't let them cut our trees.

Hear the sound of chainsaw? Trees gone forever?

It has occurred to us that some of the residents, especially those staying at Jalan BK 3/3B, 3/3C and 3/3E, are still not awared that the green lung right in front of the their houses will be gone forever very soon.

All these trees will be chopped down & replaced with LRT track.

In case the residents haven't found out yet, the new Ampang line LRT track will be running RIGHT AT OUR GREEN LUNG, and not at the middle of Bukit Jalil highway.

In other words, all the TREES WILL BE CUT to make room for the new LRT tracks.

All the trees cut. This is what our green lung will look like very soon.

In fact, it can happen any moment now. Although  we are still fighting to keep the track off the green lung, the answer we get from Prasarana is not too encouraging. Although at this moment station no. 5 is cancelled, we are still left with the task of trying to get the track off our green lung.

That's why we need you, especially those staying at BK 3/3B, 3/3C and 3/3E to come forward to SHOW YOUR SUPPORT, since you are affected the most by this development.

Yes, you better wake up

There is a briefing again tomorrow at the time at location listed below that we want you to attend:

Date: 24th. March, Saturday

Time: 6pm (evening)

Location: 1, Jalan BK 3/3C (in front of En. Amin's house)
(near pedestrian bridge)

We will update all residents of the latest development on the LRT project. 

Time is running out. This will be our last-ditch effort trying to make something happen.

It is time to wake up before it is too late.

p/s: This blog is not going to reach everyone. So we need a favour. Check and see if your neighbours are awared of the problem. If not, inform them. Then ask them to inform their neigbours too..

Too close for comfort

Anyone who travels on Bukit Jalil highway can see the construction of LRT track is getting closer to our area. The barricades and piling machines are there, and some of us may have noticed workers are roaming in and out of our area. Needless to say, the decision has to be made very soon on the realignment of the tracks.

From the information we gathered recently, Prasarana has prepared their report for a second dialogue on the realignment. We will meet them again very soon to discuss the matter further.

We also found that their contractor had come in the other day to chopped off some of trees at our green lung. However, we managed to get them to stop until the final decision on the alignment of track is made.

Some trees already cut at our green lung

Some piling machines have also started work at Kinrara industrial area next to the pedestrian bridge, making one wonder if station no. 5 is back on again. However, Prasarana has told us that station no. 5 is still off at this moment. We just hope that they are not pulling our legs.

Piling machine at Kinrara Industrial Park

Honestly speaking no one can tell how the outcome will be on the realignment of the track. One thing for sure is the residents of BK3 have been showing great solidarity in the whole ordeal. We are still hoping for the best in the upcoming second dialogue in MPSJ. You continuing support is still required until the end.

Back to Drawing Board!

It is consensus opinion amongst BK3 residents who attended the dialogue in MPSJ yesterday that Prasarana should go back to drawing board again to restudy the alignment of the LRT track.
 

Prasarana should go back to drawing board

With the presence of YB Theresa Kok, residents who attended the dialogue pointed out no matter how difficult it is, it is still an engineer's job to find the best solution to realign LRT track back to the middle of Bukit Jalil highway. 

As it is now, Prasarana is just taking the easy way out without considering the negative impact the tracks will bring to the residents.

Although the residents found out from the dialogue station no. 5 is indeed canceled (now marked in the drawing as possible future expansion station), nothing has been done to the realignment of the LRT track.

There are other parties present who wanted the station back but they were easily out-numbered by the residents of BK 3. The support from the residents of BK3 has been incredible all this while, even after facing so many obstacles, including sacrificing their time during work hours to attend the dialogue yesterday.

Some proponent of station no. 5 also feel bad for the residents in BK3, and openly supported the effort to push for the realignment of the tracks as well. 

It is inconclusive at this moment whether station no. 5 will be brought back but judging from the presence of the supporters from various camps, BK3 residents definitely have the upper hand.

One clear message we are sending to them is there is no way BK3 residents can accept station no. 5 in our area without realignment of the LRT track.

Say no to LRT track on green lung

In a separate event, it is rather unfortunate some residence in KL have to face similar predicament as us here in BK 3 with the MRT alignment. Is Prasarana really bulldozing their way aruond? According to Ong Tee Keat, they certainly are (read the full article here).

Malaysia Insider article on MRT realignment issue

Are they doing the same thing to us here in BK3? It certainly feels that way.

Update on LRT station no. 5 and track realignment

A quick update on the issue.

The state is having second thoughts on cancelling station no. 5. Apparently there are some parties who want the station to be put back at our area.

As with the realignment of the track, we haven't heard any more news on that since the last update.

With that in mind a meeting has been arranged by Mr. Gobind Singh and MPSJ for all parties to present their points.

We urge all the residents to show up up and support our effort to keep station no. 5 out of our area, and at the same time keep voice out our concern on the track in our green lung area.

THE MORE PEOPLE THE BETTER!

In order to show that we are serious what we want, please show up in full force to provide your support.

                    Date: 23rd, 2012 Thursday

                    Time: 3pm

                    Venue: Laman Kenaga, Aras 1, Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya

Again, if you need to take a half day leave, please do. If you don't have transport and want to be there, contact us. If you can not make it, ask your neighbour or relative to attend. Your support is the utmost important thing now.