TWO Kuala Lumpur residential coalitions want the Federal Government to investigate how a gazetted green lung in the capital city was leased out to a car showroom for 21 years.
The Save Kuala Lumpur (SKL) coalition is seeking the intervention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to initiate a thorough investigation into the matter, while the Kuala Lumpur Residents Associations + (KLRAs+), a coalition of 55 residents associations, want the entire approval process scrutinised.
StarMetro’s report on July 17
“We want an investigation to be carried out at the parliamentary level, with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Auditor-General, and the Integrity Department involved, to find out how and why a protected green space ended up being leased to a third party,” said SKL chairman Datuk M. Ali.
“We want the authorities to go through the process with a fine-tooth comb and bring all those responsible to book,” he added.
The coalition was responding to StarMetro’s front-page report “Not a green move” on July 17, on how the gazetted green lung measuring 0.6793ha had been leased to a car showroom for two decades at a nominal sum.
The land is leased until Jan 27, 2042 for an annual premium of RM24,449.
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Ali also questioned when the land-use zoning for the area, that did not allow development, was changed.
KLRAs+ pro-tem chairman Tan Booi Charn said: “KLRAs+ is disappointed and perceives these approvals to be contradictory to the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2020 (KLSP2020), which is currently in force.
“Its policy No.113, CF3 states: ‘City Hall of Kuala Lumpur shall ensure that all government land is used for government or public facility purposes’.
“As such, the land should remain as a green area for public use.
“The Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur Land and Mines Office (PTGWP) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) are obligated to strictly adhere to the city plan that is currently in force.”
Tan also said the case had highlighted structural issues surrounding PTGWP’s land lease approval process.
“Any application to lease reserved land must undergo public consultation to allow concerns to be addressed and objections to be heard.
“KLRAs+ urges that the relevant provisions of the land code be amended to be consistent with the policy related to public land as stipulated in the respective gazetted Structural Plans.
“Clear guidelines must be established to ensure the public is consulted and engaged with for full transparency and accountability.”
Ali concurred with Tan, saying, “When it comes to government land that is reserved as green space, it is crucial that good governance is maintained.
“There is a lack of accountability in the current system for how land is alienated or leased out to third parties and this must be addressed.”
It was earlier reported that Kuala Lumpur lawmakers and stakeholders questioned the city’s U-turn on environmental policies since the authorities seemed to be pushing for more green spaces to be gazetted, yet allowed a car showroom to be built on gazetted land.
They called for the authorities to give explaination on the deal.
The strip of land on Lot 65419 is located along Jalan Kuching and was approved to be leased out for a car showroom for used imported cars by the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Land Exco (JKTWPKL) on Nov 13, 2020.
The land was gazetted as a green lung on Sept 3, 2009.
