We're also sick of Ku Nan and overdevelopment, Harapan MPs tell residents

Frustrated at the lack of results from their efforts in protesting overdevelopment in the capital, a coalition of residential associations (RAs) have implored their local representatives for help.

The coalition, called Selamatkan KL (SKL) and comprising 30 RAs, specifically pleaded for the KL City Plan 2020 to be gazetted into law in order to curb overdevelopment.

While the representatives registered its demands, they admitted they had limited power over the Federal Territories Ministry and KL City Hall (DBKL), which govern the development of the city.

Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai said he shared SKL’s frustration and had brought up this issue in Parliament several times, but his efforts were similarly futile. He added that Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor was to blame.

“Truth is the KL City Plan 2020 won’t see the light of day even if the mayor approved it. That is how things work in KL.

“The city is overdeveloped and from 2013 to July 2017, 45 plots of land in the city were sold... below market price. This includes parks and public spaces.

“If you ask Tengku Adnan about this in Parliament, he will defend it saying the lands were sold to build affordable housing, but the truth is only some were... he is so blatantly arrogant.

“KL is under the federal government... change remains grim unless there is a change of government,” he told SKL president Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman at the meeting in Bangsar last night.

Similarly, Wangsa Maju MP Tan Kee Kwong (photo) blamed Tengku Adnan for failing to gazette the plan despite how over RM30 million of public funds were used to draft it.

Almost ten years after the plan was announced, the minister revealed in Feb last year that he will not be putting it into force as it was due to expire in 2020.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok lamented how she had raised this issue in the Dewan Rakyat multiple times only to be ignored by Tengku Adnan.

She had also assisted some of her constituents to halt a high-density development in Taman Rimba Kiara only to see them being slapped with RM40,000 in legal costs.

Take manifesto to Parliament

SKL previously met with KL mayor Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz, threatened to take DBKL to court and protested at the Ninth World Urban Forum (WUF) in KL, but have been unsuccessful at changing Tengku Adnan’s mind about the local plan.

Feedback from the MPs added to Abdul Aziz’s growing frustration.

“We have tried so many times (to push for the plan to be gazetted).

“I cannot believe we have come to this - that if you have power, you can do whatever you like,” lamented the 85-year-old former civil servant.

Batu MP Tian Chua (photo) offered that SKL could take their manifesto to Parliament next Monday (March 12).

“Let's ignore Tengku Adnan and target Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak instead, we want the PM to be involved.

“It will be good for RAs to go to the front and say what they want.

“We invite you to come to Parliament on Monday, and we will also study legal implications (should you want to take DBKL to court),” he said.

Parliament is currently in session.

Only Pakatan Harapan representatives turned up at the meeting with SKL last night despite invitations being sent to all 11 KL MPs.

The other MPs at the meeting were Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun and Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng.

PKR communications chief Fahmi Fadzil stood in for Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah, who is overseas.

Bandar Tun Razak MP Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, an independent, was unable to be present while BN MPs Johari Abdul Ghani and Ahmad Fauzi Zahari, who oversee Titiwangsa and Setiawangsa respectively, did not reply to SKL’s invitations. -Mkini