KUALA LUMPUR – For residents of Jalan Abang Haji Openg in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) the recent mudslide near Bukit Kiara has brought more than just inconvenience — it has brought fear.
Many residents, particularly those whose homes sit directly opposite the affected hillside, have lived in the neighbourhood for decades. Some have spent nearly half a century there without ever experiencing such anxiety.
“For the first time in almost 50 years, residents living directly in front of that area are living in fear,” said TTDI Residents Association spokesperson Khairuddin Rahim on a recent Scoop Insight podcast.
He said the latest mud flood has deeply shaken the community, especially elderly residents who now worry whenever dark clouds gather.
“Every single one of those 60-plus households has been unable to relax.
“In fact, as soon as dark clouds appear, they are already, frankly, outside their homes,” he added.
The April 18 incident sent mud and debris flowing into parts of the neighbourhood, reviving painful memories of previous incidents linked to nearby hillside development.
According to Khairuddin, sudden land clearing for a National Landscape Department project caught residents completely off guard.
“Everybody was shocked because it happened within just two or three days,” he said.
Khairuddin added that the speed and scale of the clearing only heightened concerns.
“It’s a Jabatan Landskap Negara project. It’s a huge contradiction.
“For their own JKR contractor — who should know better — to clear six acres in such a short time with no warning?” he questioned.
Friends of Bukit Kiara vice-president Boon said the situation reflects a broader breakdown in how development projects near sensitive green areas are planned and communicated.
He stressed that residents are not opposed to development, but are frustrated by how it is carried out without sufficient regard for environmental risks and community safety.
“We made it very clear that we did not agree with removing several acres of what is essentially a forested, tree-covered slope to make way for the headquarters,” he said.
He added that repeated incidents have eroded trust between residents and authorities, noting that residents had earlier urged phased clearing during town hall sessions.
“What was conveyed in those town halls was that the work would be done in phases.
“If it has to be done, then it must be done selectively, clearing land in parcels. If it’s difficult, then that’s the proper way to manage it,” he said.
For residents, the issue is no longer about isolated incidents, but long-term safety — and restoring peace of mind in a community that has spent decades building their lives there.
After nearly 50 years of calling Jalan Abang Haji Openg home, many now find themselves doing something they never imagined: fearing the rain. – May 4, 2026