MP: Developers may exploit window before KL Draft Plan 2020 gazetted

KUALA LUMPUR (August 2): Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has raised the alarm, over developers potentially exploiting the window of time before the Kuala Lumpur Draft Plan 2020 is gazetted later this year.

Calling for swift action by the new Federal Territories Ministerial Council, the MP was quoted by Free Malaysia Today (FMT) as saying that failing to prevent development projects from being quietly approved before the plan was gazetted later this year, would result in projects being pushed forward despite residents’ objections. 

“There are several disputed developments across the city including in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Cheras, Taman Desa and Taman Tiara Titiwangsa which are still not resolved.

“The danger is that developers, having invested substantial resources in these developments, may go ahead and seek approval from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) despite objections from residents in these areas,” he said, as quoted by FMT. 

The concern is that, prior to the gazetted city plan, DBKL could sidestep the public objection process, and approve developments inconsistent with the draft, while claiming the draft local plan was being updated. 

“DBKL’s planning department needs to be held to account,” he said, according to the news portal.

The Federal Territories Ministerial Council included Kuala Lumpur MP’s, tasked with overseeing the the policies and development of the nation's capital. The council was set up a month after the federal government told DBKL to cease conducting meetings of its board of advisors.

Barisan Nasional politicians comprised half of the board of advisors. 

The draft plan is to be gazetted by the end of the year, according to Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad, who also said that the delay is owing to DBKL having to update data from 2016 to 2018.

FMT reported that Nik Nazmi had received complaints from his constituents, that developers were advertising properties, without securing the required Development Order (DO). 

“In fact, one developer in Taman Tiara Titiwangsa has opened a grand showroom and is compiling details of prospective buyers, even going so far as to reassure them that they would ‘most likely’ secure approval in September,” he said, as reported by the news portal.

“On the surface, this means that developers will push to secure the DO despite the objections of residents in the area, who are appealing against the development and, at worst, it could be seen as DBKL working with developers to secure approval before the plan is gazetted.”

Residents in the area have expressed concerns that their objections will not be heard, and that the project in question may go through, regardless. 

The Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2020, gazetted in 2004 had a more detailed draft plan launched in 2008. After feedback and consultation from the public, it is yet to be gazetted.

Residents had raised objections over-then Barisan Nasional’s failure to gazette the plan, and Pakatan Harapan vowed to address those objections in their campaign promises. 

At the time, residents were concerned that authorities and development firms were free to misappropriate land designated as green lungs or for public works, and turn them into high density developments often despite lacking impact assessments. 

FMT reported that following consultation with the Council of Eminent Persons in June, Kuala Lumpur mayor Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz revealed that RM1 billion in development projects had been scrapped.

Tengku Adnan Mansor, the former federal territories minister allegedly granted some of these developments to the Federal Territories Foundation, a commercial body .

The foundation’s board members include Tengku Adnan and Mohd Amin.

According to FMT, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh and Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng had lodged complaints with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in May, claiming “shady land transfers” had taken place on Tengku Adnan’s watch.

The “shady land transfers” refer to the 424.29 acres of land in 64 plots, reportedly sold for a total of RM4.28 billion.