KUALA LUMPUR — Over 200 residents of Bukit Damansara rallied today to oppose what they described as “monstrous” new developments in their neighbourhood, calling on Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to produce detailed traffic and planning reports before approving further projects.

Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, speaking as a long-time resident, questioned whether DBKL had carried out a traffic study on Jalan Semantan, the main road that is already heavily congested.

“For comparison, the Petronas Twin Towers are 88 storeys. The new developments would be almost as tall. Can you imagine the pressure on Jalan Semantan, already a choke point for traffic?

“I want to ask DBKL directly, has a traffic study been done on Jalan Semantan to justify the plot ratio given to BRDB Developments Sdn Bhd (BRDB)? Has BRDB submitted a traffic impact report? How much more can this road take?” he said during the ‘Say No to Skyscrapers” peaceful rally here, today.

He also noted that the Sprint Highway already cuts through Bukit Damansara, stressing that the protest is not only about protecting the neighbourhood but also about the thousands of commuters who depend on the road daily to travel between Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya.

While acknowledging the need for modernisation, he said Bukit Damansara’s suburban character must be preserved.

“The last thing we want is for Jalan Semantan to become another KLCC. We did not move here to live in the city centre.