KUALA LUMPUR — Residents near the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve in Puchong have reignited protests following revelations that a portion of the forest land has been sold for development, despite earlier assurances that it would remain protected.
Head of the Pusat Bandar Puchong residents’ association, Awies Ung, told Scoop people living here had resisted development in the forest area since 2007 when attempts to development portions of it were made by companies including Benua Ehsan and Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd.
At the time, residents lacked political influence and turned to opposition leaders for support, he said in an interview.
Support from more residents grew after DAP politicians Teresa Kok and Gobind Singh Deo then threw their weight behind the movement to protect the forest, Ung added.
After the 2008 general election, residents were assured that the land would be restored and gazetted as a forest reserve.
“For years, everything was quiet. We believed the land was safe,” Ung said.
However, in November last year, residents were informed of a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) for a proposed development by the consultant engaged by the developer.
Further investigation revealed that the land had been sold to a private developer, with records suggesting more than one transaction over the years.
“We were shocked. The land had already been sold, and we knew nothing about it,” he said.
Ung also claimed that data from the National Property Information Centre indicates the land was sold twice, including a recent transaction completed about three years ago.
“We found records showing the land was sold at around RM13.80 per square foot. For an area in the heart of Puchong, just opposite IOI Mall, we find that (pricing) very questionable,” he said.
Attempts to obtain clarification from state authorities have so far been unsuccessful.
“That’s why we tried to go to Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han’s office, but they didn’t entertain us,” Ung said, also noting conflicting statements from state leaders regarding the project.
“YB Ng keeps saying they want to reject the development. But if that is the case, why did the state government sell the land in the first place?
“If you want to maintain it as a forest reserve, why sell it? Once you sell, you expect the buyer not to develop? Something is not right.”
Environmental, safety and traffic concerns
According to a report in The Star, the proposed 169-acre development could accommodate more than 10,000 residents upon completion. It reportedly comprises 54 units of shop lots on 16 land plots, as well as 2,724 condominium units including 1,091 Rumah SelangorKu affordable homes.
Ung said residents are worried about the environmental risks associated with developing the area.
“The slopes there are steep, and landslides happen almost every year,” he said.
The forest area is also valued as a green lung and recreational space for the community.
And if rock blasting takes place to prepare for construction, more harm, such as dust and noise pollution, would affect nearby residents.
Ung said a briefing to residents by the developer’s consultant on the SIA in November revealed that rock blasting and other works such as site clearing and construction of water suction tanks and pumping stations, could last 44 months.
Additionally, infrastructure in Puchong is already overstretched, Ung said, and further development would worsen congestion.
“Puchong is already known as a heavily jammed area. Roads here cannot take more traffic,” he said.
He highlighted large-scale developments in the area, including more condominiums, and said poor urban planning could lead to severe gridlock.
Call for accountability
The residents’ association has submitted requests to multiple levels of government, including local councils, state authorities, and federal representatives, seeking clarification on the land’s status and development plans.
“We are not spreading rumours. We have documents. We just want answers,” Ung told Scoop.
He urged the authorities to hold open forums with the community and provide a clear chronology of decisions related to the land.
With no official response forthcoming, residents have resumed protests, marking a continuation of earlier efforts made in 2008.
Subang MP Wong Chen, who is supporting their call for answers, said recently his office sent a second follow-up letter to the Selangor government after receiving no response to earlier enquiries regarding the proposed development.
The letter, addressed to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, seeks clarification on plans involving 169 acres of land in Kinrara, Puchong.
“I have been informed that the signatures collected by the residents to object to this development plan have increased from 3,752 to 6,270, a 67% increase,” Wong said. – March 21, 2026