HANNAH Yeoh today questioned the RM150 million figure that the Federal Territories minister said must be paid as compensation to the developer should the Taman Rimba Kiara housing project be scrapped.

The Segambut MP, in a statement, said the amount is an “imaginary figure”, and called on Khalid Abdul Samad to provide receipts as proof.

“The Federal Territories minister should not jump the gun by putting a mythical price tag for the cancellation of the proposed development, especially in light of the revelation made by the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4).

“C4 has provided a fresh revelation of conflict of interest involving Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan in this proposed development, and I believe the same is pending investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.”

Khalid yesterday said disputes over the project will be tabled and finalised at a cabinet meeting next month.

He said if the project is scrapped, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will have to compensate the developer to the tune of RM150 million.

“It is really expensive to pay the compensation, but since the residents are still protesting, I will leave it to the cabinet to decide.

“I have to prepare the paper and present it. The cabinet will make a decision, most probably sometime in April.”

The project involves the construction of 350 units of affordable houses for Bukit Kiara longhouse residents, and eight blocks of 50-storey high-end condominiums.

Opposition to the proposed development is mainly due to the fact that it would encroach on one of Kuala Lumpur’s last green lungs.

The Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents’ Association refuted Khalid’s claim that DBKL would have to pay compensation in the event the project is nixed.

The minister had also said the project should proceed as the size of the land involved would be reduced from 4.8ha to 3.2ha. – March 25, 2019.