Taman Melawati residents here are protesting against a proposed convention centre close to their housing estate, which they claim will cause numerous problems, including traffic congestion.

Taman Melawati Zone A, B and C Residents Association chairman Razman Hakimi Mohammad claimed the plan to build a recreational park on the 1.36ha site was changed to the convention centre without the residents’ knowledge.

“The residents agreed to the building of a ‘centre park’ for recreational purposes and maintaining the green area, via a public hearing and meetings with the developers and the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), but the agreement was reneged upon.

“We were told to attend a meeting with MPAJ to hear out the change of plan by the developer to build a convention centre, instead of a recreational park. We proposed to protest against the project but we were ignored,” he told a media conference here today.

He claimed the MPAJ also did not hold a public hearing and dialogue before approving the new plan.

Razman said the association had collected more than 2,000 signatures protesting against the plan and would send a petition and the relevant documents to the developer, MPAJ and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali on Monday.

- Bernama