The Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents Association (TTDIRA) has called out Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa for his “forceful” announcement on the continuation of the TTDI longhouse redevelopment project, despite the matter still being heard in court.
As such, residents association president Abdul Hafiz Abu Bakar said this could constitute sub judice.
“We note with surprise the (Federal Territories) FT Minister's sudden action to conduct a working visit and to issue forceful statements about proceeding with the proposed development project at Taman Rimba Kiara, even while the relevant lawsuit is still being heard by the Court of Appeal.
“We would also highlight that the lawyers acting for Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (of which the FT minister is chairperson) and Malton Group have previously issued letters threatening legal action regarding the sub-judice rule in connection with public discourse on the proposed development project,” he alleged in a statement today.
“The minister's forceful statements about proceeding with the development project at Taman Rimba Kiara, which have now been given blanket coverage in the media, appear to be sub judice.”
Yayasan Wilayah is developing the project - involving the building of affordable apartments for residents of longhouses located in TTDI at Taman Rimba Kiara - with Memang Perkasa Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of developer Malton Bhd.
Abdul Hafiz also claimed that TTDIRA had yet to receive any response from the minister despite writing a formal letter to him requesting an appointment to discuss various matters, including the project.
He further expressed surprise that the minister announced that the project would be pursued, especially as the country is in the midst of the movement control order (MCO) in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Among other things, we had hoped to offer him the opportunity to hear residents' and taxpayers' perspectives on the proposed development project at Taman Rimba Kiara, including alternative permanent housing plans at the same site for the longhouse community."
In making the announcement yesterday, Annuar said the TTDI longhouse redevelopment project would not affect the green area of Taman Rimba Kiara.
It was unfair, he claimed, to make some 100 families occupying longhouses on the site to wait further for new homes promised by the government.
“It would not be fair for them to wait another 15 years," he reportedly said.
The TTDI longhouses were built back in 1982 as a temporary five-year resettlement programme for former workers of the Bukit Kiara rubber estate.
When the area was developed, however, the residents never received their promised new homes.
In 2017, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), under the former BN government, allowed the RM3 billion Taman Rimba Kiara project to proceed.
Comprising eight blocks of 50-storey luxury condominiums and one block of affordable apartments, it would have taken up 4.9 hectares - almost half of the 10.1hectare Taman Rimba Kiara.
TTDIRA has been objecting the project as they fear it would encroach on a public park and would affect the greenery there.
Under the Pakatan Harapan administration, then Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad brokered what he termed a “win-win deal” to allow the project to proceed but at a reduced size of 3.2 hectares.
Khalid insisted this would take into account everyone’s interests as well as saving the government from legal action and having to pay RM150 million in compensation if the project were to be cancelled.
However, TTDIRA rejected the scaled-down proposal as it maintained that the park must not be affected. - Mkini
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