KUALA LUMPUR, Sat.

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, heads a list of VIPs protesting against the construction of a condominium in Taman Duta.

 Other notables on the list, which was shown to the Press by the Bukit Tunku Residents Association, include Backbenchers’ Club chairman Datuk Shahrir Samad, Tun Omar Ong Yoke Lin and Toh Puan Dr Aishah Ong.

Others are former Pernas International Holdings Berhad chairman Tunku Tan Sri Shahriman Tunku Sulaiman, Body Shop Malaysia’s managing director Mina Cheah-Foong and model Kavita Kaur Sidhu.

Shahrir, who has a condominium unit in Sri Duta 1, is worried that with the proposed development the green lung that many residents like himself have enjoyed will gradually disappear.

"I am a nature lover and there should be a habitat for the birds and other wildlife," he said in a telephone interview.

The association’s secretary, Datin Teh Lip Pin, said the density of Bukit Tunku and Taman Duta residential areas would increase by eight times if the proposed 13-block condominium project is approved.

The increase in density of the current level of 10 people per acre to 84 people per acre will contravene the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2020, released in August 2004.

The plan states that high density and high-rise development in the Federal Hill, Taman Duta and Bukit Tunku shall not be encouraged to preserve the existing low density and high quality residential areas.

Bandar Raya Developments Berhad has submitted an application to Kuala Lumpur City Hall to build 13 blocks of five-storey condominium complex comprising 209 units and two car park levels on Lots 765, 766, 767 and 768 in Jalan Gallagher in Taman Duta.

Residents of Taman Duta and Bukit Tunku held a rally today to object to the project.

Teh said the project would increase traffic congestion.

"As it is, the roads are narrow and with the potential increase in the number of residents, there will be more cars," she said.

She said there were now about 300 households in Bukit Tunku and Taman Duta. The number would double if a condominium was built in the area.

Residents of Bukit Tunku and Taman Duta have written to Kuala Lumpur City Hall to voice their concerns. Residents have until Oct 16 to object.