Call for foundation to be investigated

DAP lawmakers lodge reports with MACC over land deals totalling 170ha

KUALA LUMPUR: Two DAP MPs have lodged reports with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), asking for a probe into the Federal Territories Foundation’s involvement in land deals totalling 170ha, including Taman Rimba Kiara.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said he had filed an official complaint with the MACC over the 64 plots of land sold by City Hall to the foundation between 2013 and this year.

The deals, he claimed, had taken place when certain senior officials from the previous administration were heading the foundation.

“We believe it is a case of conflict of interest. No open tender was made,” he said, alleging most of the land was sold below market price.

He was talking to reporters after lodging a report at the MACC office off Jalan Cochrane here yesterday.

Also present were Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh and special officer to Seputeh MP, Edmund Teoh Kheng Yaik.

Lim alleged that the sale of the land to developers was also facilitated by various officials in the previous administration.

“Less than half of the land was for housing. The rest were for luxury projects,” he said.

Lim also claimed that there were too many inconsistencies in the land deals and that the developers failed to pay the premiums imposed for the change in land use and ownership.

Most of the land, he said, had earlier been categorised as open or green spaces but were sold for development without the charges being paid to City Hall.

“We understand that the developers were even allowed to collect 10% downpayment from buyers but the development charges were not paid,” he said, urging City Hall to halt all development projects that have not started for the land plots involved or where approvals have not been given.

Yeoh said she agreed with Lim that MACC should carry out a probe.

“For me it is specific, as it involves Taman Rimba Kiara in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

“I promised the people I would look into this matter,” she said.