Cheras MP alleges 42 DBKL land plots sold since Annuar took office

 

Cheras lawmaker Tan Kok Wai has alleged that 42 plots of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) land have been sold in the past eight months since Annuar Musa started serving as the federal territories minister.

He questioned if these sales had been rushed through and if they had been done by the book.

In a press conference at the Parliament lobby this morning, Tan (above) demanded an explanation from Annuar.

“Ever since Annuar held his ministerial position, many plots of DBKL-owned land have been sold to private entities to be developed into housing, commercial and other projects.

“We are shocked that the minister has approved these sales in such a short time...

“I want to ask Annuar why he allowed these land sale transactions when the developments are likely to cause long-term or even permanent negative effects to many already overdeveloped areas,” Tan said.

The developments also risk negatively impacting the environment and recreational areas, he added.

Contacted by Malaysiakini later, Tan said DBKL had published three notices to alter the existing Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 in recent months.

He said the latest notice indicated changes to 33 plots of DBKL-owned land while the earlier two notices indicated changes to three and six plots respectively.

The city plan - which lays out how the capital is supposed to be developed - is set to expire on Dec 31.

“There is so little time left (before the city plan expires) but DBKL still made three amendments affecting 42 plots of land,” Tan said during the press conference.

Of the 42 plots, the DAP lawmaker said four were in his constituency.

Despite being the local MP, he told Malaysiakini he had no knowledge if any open tender was involved or at what price the plots had been sold for.

When contacted for comment, Annuar said he will address Tan's allegations tomorrow.

"I will give a detailed explanation at a press conference in Parliament at 11am tomorrow," he told Malaysiakini. 

Malaysiakini has also contacted Kuala Lumpur Mayor Mahadi Che Ngah for a response.

Annuar must address PAC concerns

This morning’s press conference also featured other Pakatan Harapan lawmakers from the Kuala Lumpur region including Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa), Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai), Tan Yee Kew (Wangsa Maju), Lim Lip Eng (Kepong), Hannah Yeoh (Segambut) and Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang).

Along with Tan, they collectively urged Annuar to address the concerns raised by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over 97 plots of DBKL land that have been sold since 2011.

“As of today, we have not heard the minister’s (Annuar's) response to the PAC report about the DBKL land sale issue.

“I think this is an important issue and the minister must respond to the Parliament,” Fahmi said.

In a report published yesterday, the PAC noted a lack of standard operating procedures in how such land sales were being conducted.

It also noted a conflict of interest in the federal territory minister and Kuala Lumpur mayor’s involvement in Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan. This is as the charity was found to have purchased land from DBKL, an entity also chaired by the minister and mayor.

The foundation is outside the scrutiny of the National Audit Department.

Among the PAC’s recommendations was for Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan to be restructured to focus on welfare, allow government scrutiny over its activities and to eliminate involvement by the minister and mayor. - Mkini