‘Azmin should use discretion’
Noh chides MB for imposing premium on land to build fire station
SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Azmin Ali should use his discretion as the Selangor Mentri Besar to impose only a nominal premium on a 1.1ha land in Setia Alam to build a fire station, said Tan Sri Noh Omar.
The Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister said Azmin ought to realise that what was planned on the land was for the benefit of the people.
“We are building a fire station to serve the high density and developing area here, not building housing or commercial projects.
“The mentri besar should see that this has nothing to do with gaining political mileage,” he told reporters yesterday.
On Tuesday, Noh chided the state government for imposing RM4.9mil premium on the land in Jalan Setia Prima U, U13/U in Setia Alam.
Describing it as expensive, Noh said the cost to build a Class D fire station on the land was only about RM3mil.
“The state should not take advantage and make money while giving up the land,” he said.
He also pointed out that such high premium should not be imposed on a piece of land that did not even belong to the state in the first place.
The developer, SP Setia had earlier set aside the lot meant for a fire station prior to developing the area.
It was a privately owned land that has been surrendered.
Since the state did not pay anything for this, it should not take advantage to make money out of it, he said, adding that it was normal procedure for the land to be surrendered to the state government first before the Federal Government file application for it to be given up.
Noh said a fire station was necessary in Setia Alam with about 100,000 population and still growing.
In case of any emergency, the nearest responding fire stations are in Seksyen 15 and Bukit Jelutong, and they will take more than 10 minutes to reach the scene due to the distance and traffic condition.
Azmin’s office issued a statement on Wednesday, saying that the premium for the land in Setia Alam was discounted by 75% from its market value.
It said Noh, being a Cabinet minister should know that both the state and Federal Government must adhere to any policy made by the council, according to Article 91 of the Federal Constitution.
When asked, Noh questioned the rationale of following the market value when the land was not being used for development project.
“He (Azmin) should have used his wisdom and discretion as a leader.
“Which one is more important, the fire station or the premium?
“And what is the point of squarely going by the book at the expense of the people’s benefit? he said.
He added that the state government is also asking for RM2.4mil in premium for a 0.8ha private land in Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh, to build a Class D fire station there.