SEGAMBUT MP Lim Lip Eng today lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), asking the graft busters to probe the claims that residents groups are extorting developers in their fight against a development project in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI).

“(Federal Territories Minister) Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has claimed (in a statement on Monday) that there are resident groups protesting projects to ask for money from developers.

“This is clear cut blackmail, corporate extortion. I thought this only happens among the yakuza in Japan.

“This is a serious criminal allegation. Who is Tengku Adnan referring to, I want MACC to investigate,” Lim told reporters outside the MACC office in Kuala Lumpur.

He said MACC should call in Tengku Adnan to find out the alleged residents groups, development projects and developers involved.

The DAP legislator also lodged a separate complaint with the MACC to probe a payment of between RM700,000 and RM750,000 allegedly made to some longhouse residents in TTDI at the centre of a development controversy.

Lim said conflicting media reports have emerged over the payment, with a report quoting a lawyer of the developer saying it was money for to repair the dilapidated homes of the longhouse residents, while another report quoting residents said it was payment by a foundation to a contractor for the same purpose.

He said the MACC should investigate whether the payment was inducement for the longhouse residents to accept a development plan proposed by the developer.

Longhouse residents against the development plan came forward last week, saying they have never received the money or benefited from it. – December 20, 2017.