FEDERAL Territories Minister Khalid Samad must seek independent and unbiased legal advice on the legality of gazetting the 2015 version of the KL draft city plan, said Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) Residents Association.

The group is responding to Khalid’s latest remarks pertaining to the gazetting of KL City Plan and the Taman Rimba Kiara issue, which were made in a BFM interview that was aired on Monday.

TTDI Residents Association’s lead strategist and coordinator Leon Koay said it was highly possible that Khalid did not receive proper and independent advice as to the full legal implications of gazetting the 2015 version of the plan.

He said the 2015 version had not been put up for public display, comment and objections as required under the Federal Territory Planning Act 1982.

“His remarks in the BFM interview continue to indicate that his decision-making may have been the result of inaccurate advice offered to him by conflicted, compromised or incompetent elements in the system,” Koay said in a statement today.

“For the long-term health of the FT governance system, we urge him to undertake an urgent review of the decision-making pertaining to KLCP 2020 gazettement.”

The group also pointed out the conflict of interest in Khalid chairing the Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan, and KL Mayor Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan sitting on the board of the same foundation.

“This is especially so considering that the Court of Appeal has just ruled in Taman Tiara Titiwangsa’s case that the mayor’s directorship in Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan does indeed give rise to bias,” Koay said.

“The fact that the minister spends so much time defending and taking the side of Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan in disputes against tax-paying residents and voters in Kuala Lumpur is already evidence in itself of the inherent conflict of interest.

“It is disappointing indeed to observe the minister repeating Tengku Adnan-style statements in relation to Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan.”

On the Taman Rimba Kiara project, the group refuted Khalid’s claims that DBKL will have to pay compensation if the project is cancelled.  

“In reality, if the project is cancelled, Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan – and not DBKL – is potentially liable to repay perhaps RM40 million to RM50 million to the developer Memang Perkasa,” he said.

The group also commented on Khalid’s remarks on the BFM interview regarding a scaled-down proposal for Taman Rimba Kiara being “half-victory” for TTDI residents.  

“Our response is simple – the supposed scaled-down proposal touted by the minister has already been rejected by the minister’s own colleague in the cabinet,” he said, referring to deputy minister and Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh who had said she considered it unacceptable and unworkable.  

“There have already been multiple suggestions about other methods to resolve the Taman Rimba Kiara matter in ways that would mitigate the financial exposure.  

“However, from his BFM remarks, the minister remains fixated on Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan’s involvement in a project which was originated by his predecessor and is so badly tainted with issues of conflict and possible abuse of power,” Koay said. – March 20, 2019.