FORMER federal territories minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor must be questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over his decision to allow the development of Taman Rimba Kiara, said an anti-graft group.

Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel said that the connection between Tengku Adnan and directors of the companies awarded the development project there raised questions of “serious conflict of interest”.

Tengku Adnan, also fondly known as Ku Nan, was also chairman of Yayasan Wilayah Perseketuan, which had joint ventures with the Malton Group, the developer of the Taman Rimba Kiara project.

“It appears that Tengku Adnan could have abused his position by making decisions in ways that will provide personal benefit and favouritism for his associates and family members,” Gabriel said in a statement today.

On July 13, 2017, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had approved the development order for a mega project at the green lung in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, in spite of objections from residents.

The project involves the construction of eight blocks of 42- and 52-storey high-end service apartments, and a 30-storey block of affordable housing units.

Gabriel urged the Pakatan Harapan government to clarify to the public if there had been any open tender process for this joint venture, and if any internal investigation had been carried out on the “highly suspicious land deal”.

“C4 further reasserts our call for greater scrutiny over the sale of government assets and property, and demand the right to know, and the right to greater information over the dealings of government procurement and sales of property,” she said.

Tengku Adnan, 68, is facing two charges of receiving RM3 million in bribes linked to a development project in Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur.

He has claimed trial to the charges. – January 22, 2019.