FEDERAL Territories Minister Annuar Musa said he only talked about the welfare of Taman Tun Dr Ismail longhouse residents at a recent meeting and not about the Taman Rimba project.

Annuar said he was only reiterating a promise by the Federal Territories Foundation commitment to provide a permanent house to the residents who had been living there for a long time.

“Certain people had said wanting to give homes to the people (longhouse residents) was sub judice.

“Sub judice is when we dispute the merit of a case or subject matter ongoing in court.

“Trying to influence the court’s decision is sub judice, but I didn’t do that.

“I understand sub judice,” he said at the ministry’s daily press conference today.

On Sunday, Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents’ Association (TTDIRA) said Annuar’s statement on continuing development at Taman Rimba Kiara is sub judice because the matter is still before the Court of Appeal.

TTDIRA, under Save Taman Rimba, is appealing against a lower court’s dismissal of its application for a judicial review to challenge the approval given to the development.

The project, which comprises nine apartment blocks, is a venture between Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP) and Memang Perkasa Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of developer Malton Bhd.

The group said the minister’s forceful statements about proceeding with the development project at Taman Rimba Kiara, which has been given blanket coverage in the media, appear to be sub judice.

Annuar said the matter was before the courts and the government will abide by its decision.

“We cannot discuss details of the development. Let the court process take place. So, when the court makes a decision we have to follow it.”

Annuar said that the existing Taman Rimba Kiara park will not be touched and additional funding will be provided to spruce it up.

“We will also look into fencing up the park.”

He also said that affected parties can always come and discuss any issues with him.

“The resident’s association said they sent a letter to have a discussion on March 18 but that was the start of the movement control order.

“I have asked them and Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh to come today, but they had asked to postpone the meeting,” he said.

The residents’ group said a request was made last month for an appointment with Annuar, but there has been no reply.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall approved the joint venture in 2014, when Barisan Nasional’s Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor was Federal Territories minister.

TTDI residents said the project will destroy 10ha of one of Kuala Lumpur’s last green lungs.

Under the previous Pakatan Harapan administration, Federal Territories minister Khalid Abdul Samad pitched a scaled-down project comprising four blocks of serviced apartments and 204 units of affordable housing, but this was rejected by Save Taman Rimba.

In February, lawyer Cecil Abraham, representing Malton and YWP, told the Court of Appeal that TTDI residents have no legal standing to object to the project. – April 13, 2020.