KUALA LUMPUR – Residents of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), together with Friends of Bukit Kiara (FoBK), have intensified opposition to a proposed luxury condominium near Bukit Kiara, citing worsening traffic and potential environmental harm.
The development proposes at least two 30-storey towers on Parcel A within the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) grounds, adjacent to Bukit Kiara Federal Park. FoBK and residents warned that this may only mark the first phase of broader construction plans.
“The likelihood that the Parcel A Proposal is only the first phase of more tower blocks in the pipeline for Parcels B1 and B2,” the joint statement said.
A townhall on Sunday, attended by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh, was convened after months of delay, including the Ramadan period. Residents said the matter “cannot be postponed indefinitely.”
Vice President of FoBK, Tan Boon Hua, confirmed Sime Darby Property was invited but did not attend. The session was used to brief residents and collect feedback.
“They said they cannot make it to this session,” Tan said, adding that FoBK had been engaging the developer for over four years.
“It wasn’t easy, because for the first year, they were basically ghosting us and sending us to project managers. It took us the better part of two to three years before we finally had a chance to talk to the CEO,” he added.
Traffic concerns take centre stage
TTDI Residents Association spokesperson Khairudin Rahim warned that the project could severely worsen traffic in TTDI, already under strain.
Estimates suggest over 1,500 residential units from existing and proposed projects could generate more than 3,000 additional vehicles, excluding commercial traffic.
“TTDI was never designed to handle the massive vehicle volume from KLGCC Resort and beyond. Once all these projects are completed, the daily number of internal KLGCC vehicles will likely exceed 6,000, possibly even more,” Khairudin said.
Residents also voiced concern over KLGCC’s back exit road, now functioning as public access, funneling traffic into narrow streets.
“Regardless of whether the roads are classified as ‘private’ or ‘public,’ a significant number of vehicles will enter and exit TTDI using Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad, Penchala Link onto Jalan Datuk Sulaiman. These vehicles will then use the narrow two-lane Longhouse/Temple road on Changkat Abang Haji Openg, leading to KLGCC and vice versa,” he added.
Environmental risks and biodiversity loss
The townhall also highlighted the ecological impact on Bukit Kiara Federal Park, a gazetted biodiversity hotspot.
Tan presented data from four years of field studies, revealing nine firefly species, including rare ones not seen in the Klang Valley for decades. He warned that early signs of environmental degradation were already visible from nearby construction.
“The proposed condo development, if allowed to proceed, is likely to devastate this amazing natural phenomenon that Malaysians have been gifted with,” he said.
Tan argued that the 50-metre buffer between the development and forest is inadequate, given the sensitivity of fireflies to light, temperature, and human activity.
“It is jarring. Our fireflies have no chance. The buffer zone should be between 350 metres and 500 metres,” he stressed.
Calls for action
Residents are urging Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to ensure infrastructure can cope with new developments and have launched a judicial review against approving authorities.
“We call on residents to collectively object to Sime Darby Property’s plans, which appear to be ‘profiting at TTDI’s expense’,” the statement said.
FoBK also initiated the Glow campaign to raise awareness of Bukit Kiara Federal Park and the importance of preserving fireflies. Programme officer Harleen Rai Kaur said the initiative strengthens community stewardship while pressing for greater developer transparency.
“Although the development is on private land, its proximity to the forest means there could be serious implications for biodiversity, water catchment functions and the overall health of the ecosystem,” she told Scoop.
Government response
Responding to concerns, the Segambut MP said the authorities are reviewing the matter, including a request for a stay order to halt development pending court proceedings.
“I have seen your request for a stay order, and I will bring this back to the mayor and DBKL and then we will make a decision soon,” she said.
She acknowledged the challenge of balancing environmental protection with land ownership rights.
“One of the challenges we now have as DBKL would be to recognise their rights as land owners.”
They have a piece of land but they cannot develop once we propose the buffer zone,” she said.
Hannah added that one option being considered is to implement a larger buffer zone to protect Bukit Kiara.
“One option that I will be putting in as MP of Segambut would be to look into implementing a buffer zone sufficient enough to keep everything alive and well in Taman Persekutuan Bukit Kiara,” she added.
She also noted that earlier development approval for Parcel A was granted in 2015, before Bukit Kiara was gazetted as a federal park in 2019.
“So all development orders have to take into account that we now have a gazetted federal park,” she added.
Earlier, FoBK launched the Glow campaign to spread awareness of the Bukit Kiara Federal Park and the importance of preserving the fireflies. – April 12, 2026