TWO conflicting reports on disputed Taman Rimba Kiara project in Kuala Lumpur will be submitted to cabinet to decide.

The housing project already has both parties bickering publicly.

The first report will be from Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad whose scaled down plan has been objected by the Taman Tun Dr Ismail residents and Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, who is also a deputy minister in the Pakatan Harapan government.

Yeoh today said her report will consist of proposals by the TTDI residents and will be submitted to cabinet when Khalid has finalised his.

“Let’s wait for cabinet’s decision. I have said everything I want to say at the town hall session with TTDI residents.

“My papers will be attached with Khalid’s papers,” she said after visiting the Bukit Damansara Community Centre.

Last month, Khalid said that he would let cabinet decide whether to proceed with the disputed project as he felt opposition to the proposed project was getting “personal”.

Cabinet will decide whether to accept the scaled down version of the project, which will reduce encroachment on Taman Rimba Kiara, or the proposal by Yeoh and TTDI residents that the condominium be scrapped and only affordable homes be built within the longhouse’s footprint, without touching the park, Khalid said.

Yeoh and TTDI residents have also proposed that town houses be built on the site instead of a housing complex.

Khalid has said under the renegotiated deal, the developer will return half the land – about 1.6ha – and halve the number of condominium blocks from eight to four.

He added the other option is to buy back the land, which will cost City Hall RM150 million and the council will also have to spend another RM25 million to build homes for the longhouse residents that live on the periphery of the park.

Khalid has been at loggerheads with Yeoh, who opposes the project with TTDI residents and has openly disagreed over the park’s redevelopment.

Yeoh and residents under the Save Taman Rimba Kiara banner have alleged there are elements of corruption in the project’s approval under the previous Barisan Nasional government.

Khalid’s ministry has direct interest in it through Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan, which owns the land for the project.

Several reports were lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over the project since last year. – May 23, 2019.