Tanah Rata assemblyman Chiong Yoke Kong said details of a joint venture agreement between Majlis Daerah Cameron Highlands (MDCH) and Casa Inspirasi Sdn Bhd were not freely available, nor was information on the public tender process.

The mixed development project will cover 20.77ha and is slated to have a gross development value of RM1.5 billion, with completion expected in 10 to 15 years.

“Based on (parent company) LBS Bina’s filing with Bursa Malaysia, Casa Inspirasi participated in the tender exercise by the MDCH and was selected to obtain the above-mentioned land,” Chiong said in a statement today.

“However, neither the state government nor the local council informed the public about the process of evaluating and selecting the successful tenderer in an open and transparent manner.”

As such, he said, the public had no way of knowing how Casa Inspirasi’s proposal measured up against other submissions, which developers would be involved, and what sustainability measures would be implemented.

“Cameron Highlands is recognised as an environmentally sensitive area in the country, where landslides and flash floods often happen,” he said.

“Therefore, the state government and the local authorities should be more open and transparent in dealing with development, and listen to and collect the opinions given by various parties in order to guarantee sustainable development in Cameron Highlands.”