In a course to strengthen its defense of the Subang Ria Park, Subang Jaya Residents Association (SJRA) have filed an affidavit to intervene the appeal hearing of Sime Darby which is scheduled for this Thursday.
The residents association, led by chairman AS Gill and represented by MBPJ councillor Derek Fernandez, applied to be an intervener in Sime Darby’s appeal at Shah Alam Appeal Board today morning.
They also presented supporting documents such as Sime Darby’s property brochures in 1980s, maps and local draft plans to the board.
According to Gill, Sime Darby filed an appeal on May 10 following Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ)’s rejection to their application to sub-divide the 72.6 acres park.
The residents association, however, were kept in dark about the appeal case until it received a tip-off recently.
“We immediately went into scramble mode and consulted Derek on ways we could support MPSJ’s legal department to strengthen their case,” Gill said.
“And he advised us to filed an affidavit,” he added.
Gill reckoned that the appeal might be a long drawn one as it is heard only at the state level now, but stressed that the multinational Sime Darby should fulfill its corporate responsibility to keep the green lung intact.
Subang Ria Park, the only sizeable green lung in Subang Jaya, frequently came under threat when the property owner, Sime Darby, insisted on developing parts of it.
In 2007, the initial development proposal was withdrawn by the company after some 1000 residents vociferously protested.
The listed developer then proposed an amended plan last year- to upgrade 53.7 acres of the park to a world-class recreational site, while converting the remain 18.9 acres for commercial use.
Meanwhile, Derek, the legal advisor to the residents, said the objective of intervening the suit is to enable the full set of facts from various interested parties being heard before the appeal’s board judge makes a decision.
He added that contradictory interests will aroused if Sime Darby move to develop the park now as many residents “have been lured to buy properties from brochures that advertised Subang Ria Park.”
“Besides, MPSJ has also gazzeted the local draft plan that alienate Subang Ria Park as a recreational park,” he said.
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