KUALA LUMPUR – The Royal Selangor Club (RSC) has withdrawn its proposal to build a new annexe with a gaming room in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), following strong objections from residents.
Club president Rizal Edi Effendi Sahbudin said the club and its business partner, gaming operator GPL, had “mutually agreed not to proceed” with the plan.
The scrapping of the plan was informed to the TTDI Residents’ Association via email to its president, Abdul Jabar Ahmad Junid, he was reported as saying.
Residents’ spokesperson Khairudin Rahim welcomed the decision, saying it showed both parties had “listened to and respected the TTDI community’s grounded objections and rationales.”
He added that the objections were based on provisions in the newly gazetted Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040.
However, he said residents were still waiting for Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to respond to their formal objection, submitted on June 16 to the mayor and the city’s planning executive. “This will clarify once and for all DBKL’s position on GPL’s application, submitted on March 21, to build RSC’s Annexe 2 building that includes a slot machine area,” he said.
The proposed half-acre development off Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi would have included a bar, restaurant, pickleball courts, and a slot machine area for non-Muslim members. The location, close to residential homes, a police quarters, and a religious primary school, sparked public concern.
Rizal had earlier clarified that the proposal for the TTDI annexe was not initiated by the club. In December 2023, club members had approved relocating the existing gaming room, but delays prompted GPL to propose the TTDI site earlier this year.
Founded in 1884, the Royal Selangor Club is based at a colonial-era building in Dataran Merdeka. It also operates a sports annexe in Bukit Kiara, separated from TTDI by two golf courses. – June 27, 2025