THE enemy of overdevelopment is not the rich, nor ironically the unscrupulous developers. It is actually those who allow them to go on unfettered, that let them run roughshod over people’s lives.
The recent protest by Bukit Damansara residentrs over what was to be a monstrosity of a development in the once leafy, exclusive suburbs that is a stone throw to Kuala Lumpur city centre, has drawn cynical responses from seemingly the rest of the country.
T20 folks, the upper economic echelon of society, protesting developments in their neighbourhood! Oh, pity them.
The cynicism when videos, pictures and reports listed some of the who’s who holding placards protesting the development was something akin to the now-you-know-what-the-rest-of-us-have-to-go-through kind of vibe.
Where were these folks when the same was happening elsewhere – in Kampung Baru, Puchong, Taman Desa, Tanjung Bungah, Johor Bahru, or a former fishing village in Kuala Terengganu?
The simple answer is that they were not protesting then because they were not affected. Those were somebody else’s backyards. It was the same for the rest of us, too, especially when we are not affected. We are all selfish that way.
One cannot blame the residents of Bukit Damansara for protesting against the proposed development that would change the nature of their neighbourhood, as much as the residents of other areas. However, one could sense a class war evolving when we questioned their cause – why should it be different for them just because they have money, connection and influence?
However, rampant unfettered developments should be resisted regardless of where they are and who they affect, and they should not be seen as a come-uppance – “padan muka, baru dia tahu” – to people whom many would think are blessed with advantages not many have.
Just because the hundreds or so gathered over that weekend could probably have a much higher net worth than the national’s average or that they have properties beyond the reach of an overwhelming majority of Malaysians, it does not mean their grievances are invalid.
They were protesting a proposed 60-storey twin towers, just 20 floors shy of the Petronas Twin Towers, in a residential area!
Their way of life could be upended by something that is not necessary except for meeting corporate targets. It is not a hospital or school, for instance, but a pure commercial decision with no other agenda but to make a heap of money from the plot of land.
There are developments that do not add much to the well-being of communities and often bring more negative consequences. When that happens we should question not the wisdom of the corporations, which is almost always driven by commercial consideration, but more of the regulators and policy makers.
Why are they OK-ed? What are the criteria for approval? Is there really a need? Has the area the carrying capacity to handle the traffic, sewerage, quality of life, etc.?
The people who flamed the protest of the Bukit Damanasara residents are missing the point. They need to rise above their pettiness. Injustices and the encroachment of rights occur everywhere and should be resisted and objected, and not ridiculed and mocked.
When they come for one, they come for us all, kind of thing.
Understandably it is difficult to be sympathetic to the residents there who not only are probably better off than many, but these folks probably have the ears of the movers and shakers and could probably be able to tamper with the proposal.
Incidentally, the Bukit Damansara protest tone seemed to be more of annoyance and incredulousness that the proposed monstrosity could even be contemplated at all and potentially could be given the nod. It was different, for example, from the desperation of the Sungai Besar residents in Kuala Lumpur who were losing their homes.
Yet why should people elsewhere be supporting them?
We must remember that while the T20s seem to be fighting for themselves, they ultimately are championing the rights of others against unfettered developments, too.
While many find it difficult to be sympathetic to the Bukit Damansara residents, we should also remember that they are actually not the enemy. They could potentially be the best allies to have in this battle over overdevelopment.
In all likelihood, the noises they make, the doors they knock and the influence they peddle will make the authorities more cautious in allowing developments that might significantly impact communities. – October 13, 2025
***Datuk Zainul Arifin is the Chief Executive Officer of Big Boom Media that publishes Scoop.my