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The construction of data centers in Malaysia has become a contentious issue, particularly among residents living near these sites.
Most recently, Kota Damansara resident Raja Kamarul Azzahar (@rajakamarul) voiced his concerns on Threads regarding the short protest period given to residents by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
Based on the signboard along Jalan Rimba Riang 9/6 in Seksyen 9, a plan is in place to build a data centre in that location. However, residents in the area are only given seven days to voice their protest. Raja Kamarul claimed that the signboard was only erected three to four days ago and wondered if it’s an attempt to quietly build a data centre in the area.
He also claimed that the public is usually granted 14 to 30 days to gather all necessary information to launch a protest for any development they don’t agree with.
Raja Kamarul tried calling the contact number stated on the board, and claimed that the project file reference number was ‘not found’.
Other people, including residents, have complained about the short time given to mount a protest as well. Threads user @m_qilrif claimed that the file reference number was ‘not found’ and uploaded a screenshot of the website page as proof.
Meanwhile, another user questioned who thought it was a good idea to build a data centre right in the middle of PJ and in a housing area.
A formal protest is launched
Some residents reached out to Kota Damansara assemblyman Izuan Kasim to look into the issue. On Threads, Izuan said he has obtained information about the matter from several residents and vowed that his office will stand with the residents in mounting a protest against the data centre.
“We fight,” Izuan declared.
When TRP contacted MBPJ to ask why the file reference number was unavailable, MBPJ replied that it had forwarded TRP’s request to its Development Planning Department (Jabatan Perancangan Pembangunan).
It is believed that Muhamad Shazwan Suhaimi, the City Councilor for Zone 3 in Petaling Jaya, and Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, the Sungai Buloh MP, have each also sent a letter of protest, according to copies of their letters shared on Threads by @orangkotadamansara.
What does the law say?
According to Section 21(6) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172), residents are usually given a 21-day public objection period for development projects in Petaling Jaya. Local authorities, such as the city council, process these objections over a strict 21-day window following the issuance of public notices.
The section states that, “If the proposed development is located in respect of which no local plan exist for the time being, then upon receipt of an application for planning permission… the local planning authority shall, by notices in writing served on them, inform the owners of the land adjoining the land to which the application relates, of their right to object to the application and to state their grounds of objection within twenty-one days of the date of service of the notice.”
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