The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will prioritise the Federal Territories Minister’s orders relating to land matters under its administration, a former officer told the High Court today.
Retired DBKL director Ab Salim Mansor said this when testifying in former federal territories minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor's (photo, above) corruption case for receiving RM2 million from developer Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd.
”The minister's orders are our priority, followed by orders from the deputy minister, mayor and other department chiefs,” said Salim, who formerly headed DBKL's Economic Planning and Development department.
During questioning by deputy public prosecutor Hadariah Siri, Salim was referred to a February 15, 2016 letter from the Federal Territories Ministry to former KL mayor Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz, which was forwarded to him for further actions.
The Feb 15 letter was originally attached to a second letter from Aset Kayamas to Tengku Adnan dated Feb 3, requesting another payment postponement and a reduction to an increase in the sale price from 20 percent to 10 percent.
Through the letter, DBKL was informed that the minister has approved an appeal from Aset Kayamas to defer the first 10 percent payment amounting to RM2.356 million for the two lots of land offered for sale and a reduction to an increase in the sale price from 20 percent to 10 percent.
Salim told the court that the letter was forwarded to him for the purpose of drafting a response to the developer, and a typical process would involve meetings with the mayor to discuss further actions to be taken by his department.
”In this case, we discussed why this matter (reduction and postponement) can be implemented, and that we can justify it.
”The instructions have been given. Normally, we will issue a letter to the developer based on approval from the minister," he said.
Mohd Amin yesterday said DBKL had deliberated on Aset Kayamas' request and approved it as per Tengku Adnan's “instruction”.
He said the “instructions” were conveyed through two handwritten notes from Tengku Adnan for two separate letters which the ex-minister received from Aset Kayamas over the sale of the two lots of land.
Mohd Amin then instructed Ab Salim to write a reply, which the mayor signed based on the minister's “instructions” to approve the payment deferment.
During cross-examination yesterday, Mohd Amin agreed with defence lead counsel Tan Hock Chuan that Tengku Adnan’s written notes were just suggestions rather than formal instructions, although he pointed out that having the power to reject such suggestions doesn’t mean he would have the courage to do so.
Earlier today, Mohd Amin continued to take the stand to further suggestions from Tan that the final decision lies with DBKL and not the minister.
”To be fair to you, of course, the minister has an influence.
”Everywhere in the world politicians have an influence,” Tan told Amin, who only smiled in response.
The prosecution, in its opening statement on Tuesday, highlighted the sale of the two DBKL lots to Aset Kayamas as proof of Tengku Adnan's close dealings with the company.
The prosecution said when Aset Kayamas first proposed to buy the land to build low-cost housing in Jan 2015, it was rejected by then Kuala Lumpur mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib.
Aset Kayamas is then said to have engaged with Tengku Adnan, who played an active role in getting the project ultimately approved.
Tengku Adnan is accused of having asked Aset Kayamas owner Chai Kin Kong for RM5-6 million in June 2016 for by-election funds.
Chai responded with an RM2 million cheque from Aset Kayamas to Tengku Adnan-owned Tadmansori Holdings Sdn Bhd.
The trial before Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Mohd Zaini Mazlan continues from July 9 to 11 and July 16 to July 18, with another 11 prosecution witnesses to take the stand. - mkini
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