SHAH ALAM, July 31 - The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has confirmed that an application for planning permission for a data centre in Section 9, Kota Damansara has been withdrawn after the developer decided to reassess the project’s suitability.
MBPJ’s Corporate Communications Unit said it received a letter from the project’s consultant, acting on behalf of the developer, on July 28 notifying the council of the withdrawal of the planning permission application, The Star reported.
It said the move was intended to allow the developer to re-evaluate the site’s feasibility and development components to ensure they are more economically viable, sustainable and compatible with the surrounding area’s development.
“The withdrawn application involved an application for the return and re-alienation of land under Sections 197 and 76 of the National Land Code 1965,” the unit said.
It added that the application was submitted simultaneously with the planning permission application for the proposed business data centre development.
MBPJ said the proposed two-block, three-storey data centre development involved 19 lots of private land and part of a government road reserve along Jalan Rimba Riang 9/6, Section 9, Kota Damansara.
Yesterday, Kota Damansara assemblyman Muhammad Izuan Ahmad Kasim told Media Selangor that MBPJ had informed him the developer of the proposed commercial data centre had withdrawn its planning permission application for the project.
“I am grateful and thankful to all parties who came together to protest the development of the data centre near the residential area.
“This victory belongs to the residents of Kota Damansara, whose unity has helped ensure the sustainability of the community here.”
Earlier this month, local residents raised concerns over the proposed commercial data centre, particularly its potential impact on nearby green spaces, biodiversity and the surrounding community.
Residents also criticised the short public objection period, which ran from July 21 to 27. Both the residents and Izuan submitted formal objections to MBPJ over the proposed project.
On Monday, MBPJ emphasised that the project proposal was still under assessment and had not been approved.
As of last Tuesday, the local authority had received about 290 formal objections.