Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s remark that foreigners will be prevented from purchasing properties at the Forest City project in Johor will be studied before a decision is taken to chart “the way forward”, said Zuraida Kamaruddin.
The housing and local government minister said she had been instructed to chair a committee to look into the matter.
“Tun M’s statement will be studied, and we will engage agencies, as well as the developer, to see the best way out, or way forward,” she said.
The committee will submit a report to the prime minister on the matter, after which he will respond with the necessary action or guidelines, Zuraida added.
She was speaking at a press conference after attending a ministry function in Putrajaya this morning.
Zuraida also noted that some of the properties in Forest City had been sold in China, but not through the local system.
Built by China’s Country Garden Holdings Company in a joint venture with businesses held by the Johor sultan, Forest City was envisioned as a sprawling 13.86 sq km smart city built on four artificial islands.
The developer had projected a population of 700,000 by 2035, but the project has mostly been marketed to foreigners.
“We have no engagement with Forest City. When the project was launched (in the BN era), it was not through the National Physical Planning Council (MPFN),” she said.
The committee will hold a meeting with the developer to help gauge the mechanism of purchasing properties there, she added.
“We will hold a meeting with them and scrutinise the deals, and terms (previously) made.”
Asked if Mahathir’s statement yesterday meant that there was a temporary freeze on foreigners purchasing Forest City properties, Zuraida said: “Developers should get the message.”
‘Seek clarification’
According to her, the developer has not written to her ministry to seek clarification on Mahathir’s remark and the status his statement puts the project in.
“They should have the courtesy to write in to seek clarification.
“We have not decided on who will be involved in the committee. For now, it will include KPKT (Zuraida’s ministry), the Finance Ministry, the Johor state government, and others will be roped in (if need be).”
Yesterday, Mahathir told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that Forest City units would no longerbe sold to foreigners.
“One thing is certain, that city that is going to be built cannot be sold to foreigners. We are not going to give visas for people to come and live here.
“Our objection is because it was built for foreigners, not built for Malaysians. Most Malaysians are unable to buy those flats,” he had said.
in a statement later, the developer Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd (CGPV) cast doubt on media reports about Mahathir’s remark, saying his comment “may have been taken out of context“. – M’kini
MINISTER: FOREST CITY FOREIGN SALE BAN NOT YET DECIDED
PUTRAJAYA – Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the prime minister’s remark that foreigners may not buy units at the Forest City development in Johor has yet to be formalised in policy.
She told the developer to contact her ministry via writing to clarify Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s declaration.
Zuraida added that any resolution must also involve the Finance Ministry and the Johor government.
“For the time being, it is still undecided if they can sell property to foreigners,” she told reporters following the ministry’s National Physical Planning Council meeting.
“We must assess (the situation) and then provide the prime minister with a report.”
Zuraida said she has yet to engage with the project’s developer, Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd (CGPV), adding it would be good if they contacted her ministry to explore the conditions for the sale of Forest City units to foreigners.
When asked to state if CGPV could not currently sell to non-Malaysians, she said only that Dr Mahathir’s remark was plain.
“But so far there has been no official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) only his (verbal) response to the media,” Zuraida said.
During a press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Dr Mahathir said in addition to barring foreigners from buying Forest City units, visas will also not be given for them to reside in Malaysia.
The prime minister said he did not agree with a local property development that it is aimed primarily at foreign buyers and priced out of the range of most Malaysians.
The developer responded the same day by saying it fully complied with local laws and regulations pertaining the sale of property to foreign buyers.
Currently, foreigners are restricted to only purchasing property priced RM1 million and above. – Malay Mail
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