ACTIVISTS opposed to the development of Taman Rimba Kiara should meet the Federal Territories Ministry in person with their allegations, its under-fire minister, Khalid Samad, said today.
“Why don’t you come and see me instead of making statements in the media?” Khalid said at a press conference.
“I will show you all the documents. I don’t know how many times you’ve met the president (of the residents’ association), but you have not met me.
“Come and listen to my side of the story, too. You cannot expect the media to carry every word I say.”
Khalid said activists like Cynthia Gabriel and Ambiga Sreenevasan, who accused him of conflict of interest in the redevelopment of the suburban park in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, have not once come to meet him to discuss the matter.
Cynthia, executive director of anti-corruption watchdog C4, and Ambiga, the former president of the Malaysian Bar, yesterday took Khalid to task over his position as minister and chairman of Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan, which is a party to the redevelopment project.
There were also suggestions that Attorney-General Tommy Thomas look into the possibility of voiding the development project due to its potential “illegality”.
The “illegality” to which the activists referred was the awarding of the redevelopment contract under former minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, also the chairman of Yayasan WP when the project was awarded to developer Memang Perkasa Sdn Bhd.
C4’s Cynthia also alleged that an associate of Tengku Adnan’s had stakes in Memang Perkasa through shareholding in other companies.
When questioned, Khalid said he had discussions with TTDI residents on the park development, adding that they were “very pushy”.
“They behave as if they own the park. They don’t recognise that it is not their property.
“They have rights, by virtue that they live in TTDI. But you have to draw a line. They don’t own the park.”
Khalid said the Bukit Kiara federal park was less than a kilometre away from Taman Rimba Kiara, but people were behaving as if the latter was “the last green lung in Kuala Lumpur”.
“Right smack in the heart of Kuala Lumpur is over 300 acres of green area. Let’s be reasonable. There is so much misinformation.”
He said he would let Cabinet decide on Taman Rimba Kiara, and that he hoped the TTDI residents would gracefully accept its decision.
“The Cabinet paper will be presented with all the comments from the ministries. Hannah Yeoh’s comments will also be included,” he said, referring to the Segambut MP.
Yeoh and Khalid have openly disagreed on the scaled-down version of the redevelopment.
Khalid had called the renegotiated project a “win-win” situation, as the four acres of the park would be saved, while the luxury condominium project would proceed.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall would also save money while longhouse residents would get new housing.
Yeoh and TTDI residents, however, had said the project should be scrapped or only be built within the longhouse’s footprint without encroaching the park.
Khalid said he was “very disappointed” with the claims made against him and denied favouring the developer.
Yeoh is to hold a public briefing this Saturday morning to explain the opposition to the renegotiated project at the TTDI Community Centre. – May 16, 2019.
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Comments
Posted 4 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by Butter Scotch · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply
After all, the original decision was not your doing why so protective of the flawed agreement. Smells bad
Posted 4 years ago by Robert Phang · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by Scm wong · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by Wen Chiuan Woo · Reply