Local residents have protested against plans for the construction of 350 units of affordable homes and eight blocks of 50-storey condominium apartments on a 4.8 hectare plot of land there. The residents say that Taman Rimba Kiara is one of the last remaining green lungs in the capital city.

Khalid said more than RM150 million in compensation must paid to the developer of the proposed housing scheme if it was cancelled.

“It is really expensive to pay the compensation … but since the residents are still protesting, I will leave it to the Cabinet to decide,” Khalid said, Bernama reported.

“I have got to prepare the paper and present it to the Cabinet and they will make a decision most probably some time in April.”

Khalid said the project should proceed as the size of the land involved would be reduced to 3.2 hectares after taking into account the protest from local residents.

He spoke to reporters after a community event at the Beringin public housing scheme.

He said DBKL had introduced a scheme to help tenants settle their arrears of rent. Those who could not pay the rent for their flats would be appointed as cleaners, with their income channelled directly to DBKL to settle their current and outstanding rents.

“A total of 107 tenants were in arrears of rent. So, if they really cannot afford to pay the rent, they can take up the job with an income of between RM800 and RM1,300 per month,” he said.

Total outstanding arrears of rent amounted to RM25.76 million in January involving 25,872 flats rented at RM95 to RM135 a month.