Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) recently sealed off the building, located in Taman OUG in Jalan Klang Lama, from the public.

Residents here said the building is illegal as it stands on land gazetted for residential use, and that it is two storeys taller than its original three-storey plan.

Siblings Ng Seng Giap, 61, and Ng Chiew Hong, 56, who live just behind the project, recalled how their neighbour’s house was demolished four years ago to make way for a three-storey structure on two plots of land owned by three individuals, including two Chinese nationals.

Building works were suspended by DBKL following a landslide but continued soon after.

What piqued their curiosity was the sight of monks at the construction place, and they began to suspect the project was for a religious structure.

The two plots of land are strictly residential, according to documents from the land and mines office.

Residents want DBKL to explain the status of the project, now slapped with a stop-work order for violating the approved building plan, as stated in a sign placed at the site.

Residents have also written to DBKL seeking details, saying the land should not be used for a place of worship.

Seng Giap is convinced a monastery is being built. He pointed to three large pipes from the building, as well as the lack of windows on three sides.

“Is this a house?” he asked.

“There is nothing much to discuss. It is a residential area. They can’t do any other activity here. No way.”

He said despite the stop-work order by DBKL, residents are worried that the landowners are “well connected” and could pressure the authorities to allow the project.

“This is what we don’t want to happen,” he said when met at the site with other residents opposed to the project.

“It is supposed to be a residential area. We don’t want anything other than that here.”

Seng Giap said residents are ready to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the federal territories ministry, should DBKL allow the project.

His brother, Chiew Hong, questioned why a building with no windows did not raise red flags with the authorities.

He fears that more landslides could occur in the area during heavy rain, adding that it would be disastrous as it is situated above the busy Jalan Awan Besar.

Representatives from DBKL’s planning division and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok have met with the residents.

Residents say DBKL promised to investigate the project for violations of its building plan, before deciding whether to demolish it.

So far, Taman OUG residents are still in the dark, and unlike the design of the five-storey building, they hope transparency will prevail.