KUALA LUMPUR — Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin will lead a protest tomorrow against the proposed redevelopment of Wisma Damansara into two 60-storey towers, a project he and residents say would overwhelm Bukit Damansara’s residential character.
Khairy, who lives in the neighbourhood, said the plan — put forward by BRDB Developments after acquiring the land in March — was “entirely unsuitable” for the area.
“Enough! Our neighbourhood is no place for mega towers. This is our home — for our families, children, community life and the daily flow of people,” he said in an Instagram video, urging residents to gather along Jalan Semantan at 9am.
“Let’s stand together… raise your voice to save Bukit Damansara. Protect our community, not concrete giants.”
More than 300 households have submitted official objections to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), citing fears of worsening congestion on Jalan Semantan and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim.
Their concerns centre on the project’s proposed plot ratio of 1:9.6, which they argue far exceeds the 1:6 limit set under the draft Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040.
Built in 1970, Wisma Damansara was the first commercial office block in Damansara Heights. The public consultation period for its proposed redevelopment ended in mid-August, and DBKL has yet to decide on the application.
Both DBKL and BRDB say the project complies with planning rules and offers redevelopment incentives.
Segambut MP and Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has joined residents in urging DBKL to reject the project, warning that repeated departures from the city’s local plan risk undermining public trust.
“The proposed redevelopment does not comply with the local plan, which is a legally binding document,” Yeoh said in a statement.
“Planning decisions must be based on a full evaluation of the area’s character, infrastructure readiness, and long-term sustainability.”
She added that existing infrastructure — including roads and water supply — is already under strain.
“Infrastructure must be upgraded before any further development is considered, not after. Approving new projects without resolving existing challenges is simply irresponsible.”
Yeoh demanded that DBKL not approve projects that stray from the gazetted Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040; that no new highways be proposed; and that residents’ associations be fully included in impact assessments.
She confirmed that she filed objections to DBKL on August 15 alongside local residents, and followed up with a letter to city mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Sharif.
The controversy highlights growing tension between residents and developers over Kuala Lumpur’s rapid vertical expansion, often approved under redevelopment incentives that critics say prioritise profit over liveability.
For Bukit Damansara, the fight now sits at the intersection of community resistance, political pressure, and DBKL’s final call on whether Wisma Damansara’s 55-year-old structure will give way to mega towers — or remain a neighbourhood landmark. — October 3, 2025