Despite the hurdles faced by the muchdebated Damansara 21 project in Medan Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, work on the hillside bungalow scheme could resume before the end of the year.

According to legal commentators, although its developer, SDB Properties Sdn Bhd (SDBP), has been issued a stop-work order and slapped with a RM100,000 fine for failing to comply with safety standards, there are no legal grounds to prevent it from continuing with the project once it has satisfied the directives given by KL City Hall.

"The developer will only have to provide the outstanding documents, if any, and satisfy City Hall’s directives to rectify existing issues before being able to continue work," said lawyer K. Shanmuga.

Sources from SDBP confirmed that the process is underway.

Damansara 21, which commenced in December last year, is a high-end scheme that will feature 21 luxury bungalows priced indicatively between RM10 million and RM15 million.

Although pre-construction work has commenced, the developer has not begun marketing yet.

"The fact is, if the project has already received approval from the relevant authorities and the necessary documents are in place, it will be difficult to stop the development because it is on private land," Shanmuga said in reference to calls by Medan Damansara residents to scrap the development.

SDBP is also hotly contesting claims that it did not receive proper approvals. "We were given the development and advertising licence before construction began, so this is hardly the situation," a company spokesperson said.

Another lawyer who wished to remain anonymous said, "If this is the case, then the only issue remaining is the improvement of the safety standards at the site and the construction of a proper drainage system, which are the two infringements they were fined for.

"This isn’t difficult to achieve, and I’m sure the developer will happily implement them in order to continue work. "In fact, leaving it (the project) in its current state will probably cause more harm to the surrounding environment and landscape, so I think the developer has a duty to now complete it."