StarMetro report on May 25, 2024.
FEDERAL Territories of Kuala Lumpur Lands and Mines Office (PTGWP) has come under fire for offering a low price for plots of land at the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond.
Residents of Kinrara in Puchong, Selangor, which is near the Bohol pond, are calling for an explanation on the land deal as the premium is below market value.
In a press conference broadcast live on Facebook, Mohammed Nasser Yusof, acting as lawyer for residents, said the developer was to pay RM74 per square foot for 10.1ha of land surrounding the pond.
“This is based on the land premium of RM41mil and RM40mil cost to redevelop the pond,” he said, stressing that the figures were too low as the Kampung Bohol land was valued at RM200 per square foot or more.
He said the government would incur losses from the low land price offered to the developer.
“What is the criteria for such a low price? Residents deserve to know,” said Mohammed Nasser.
In the same broadcast, Taman Kinrara Residents Association chairman Alvin Lee urged the authorities to reconsider the plan as the residents were concerned about worsening traffic congestion and increase flood risks if the projects took off.
StarMetro previously reported that six plots of land surrounding the Bohol pond had been alienated for residential developments.
These would include Federal Territories Affordable Housing Project (Residensi Wilayah) and a condominium, on three plots.
It was reported that the developer would be free to decide on the types of projects to construct on the remaining land plots.
The proposed developments near the flood retention pond sparked outrage among the public, who insisted that they would exacerbate environmental risks.
On May 8, a notice published by the Attorney General’s Chambers in the Federal Government Gazette announced the proposed revocation of the land reservation for public purposes under Section 64(2) of the National Land Code (Act 828) for the 24.79ha Lot 35309.
On May 16, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the developer would be required to upgrade the retention pond before it could receive a development order for the alienated plots of land.
