After almost 40 years of staying in a two-storey bungalow along Jalan Tualang, Bangsar, businessman Michael Choong finally decided that the time has come to put it up for sale and to move his family out.
"The reason is largely because of this commercial building.
"They started operations this year and have held about four to five events," Choong said, in reference to a two-storey bungalow which had been converted into a commercial premises since 2015.
Choong said it has now become "unbearable" for him to live in the area, along with his family of eight.
Choong (photo) is one of around 50 residents who had for the past few years objected to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)'s decision to approve the conversion, citing traffic congestion and noise disruption as being some of the factors.
"Every time they have events, there will be lorries coming in delivering stuff, lorries leaving, early in the morning and sometimes around midnight.
"The last time they had an event there was traffic congestion. The road was narrowed until only one car can pass," he said.
The protesting group, led by Bukit Bandaraya Residents Association advisor M Ali, once again gathered at the main junction of Jalan Maarof and Jalan Tualang his morning where Choong's house is located directly opposite the commercial building.
"My heart sank when I saw the ("For Sale") sign this morning.
"Why is he selling? Not really because he wants to move out, but because of the frustration we are going through," said Ali.
Residents just want to 'live in peace'
Ali earlier told reporters that their group is not against development of the area, but only the ones done without consideration of the residents' welfare.
"Today we have invested our money to buy a home and live a humble, simple, peaceful life. Most of us are in our 'twilight zone', don't know how long more we will be here.
"So we just want the government to let us live in peace. That's all we are saying," he said, adding that their past attempts to engage with DBKL and the government on the issue had failed.
Among others, Ali said the residents' main demand was for the premises which now served as an event space to close its access located along Jalan Tualang, purportedly built over a DBKL drain reserve, which also faced their homes.
At the same time, he also said the residents had attempted to engage with Pakatan Harapan Federal Territories lawmakers on the same issue.
"I would like to take a dig at the YBs in Wilayah Persekutuan, with all due respect to you YB, because they also have not positively responded to us," said Ali in reference to Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar (photo) who was present on site to meet with the residents this morning.
It was reported in May that the group had held a similar protest at the site, even before the current tenant had moved into the building and was still under renovation.
Nurul Izzah, in response, said she had recently attempted to set-up a meeting between the residents and Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, but it was cancelled due to the recent Umno Annual General Assembly.
Following the gathering today, Nurul Izzah promised to once again arrange for a meeting with Tengku Adnan or his deputy, Loga Bala Mohan.
Malaysiakini has contacted the premises' management and is withholding its name pending an official response.- Mkini
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