In a statement today, the Kuala Lumpur Residents Action for Sustainable Development Association (KLRA+SD) said the land in question was classified as a public open area 1 in the Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020.
Given this classification, it asked why property developer Platinum Victory Sdn Bhd had paid the government a premium of RM41.7 million.
“This area is proposed as residential 3 (R3) in the draft Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (PTKL 2040). Is this developer sure that land use zone approval for R3 in PTKL 2040 will happen?” said KLRA+SD chairman Tan Booi Charn.
Last Thursday, federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the government had pledged to upgrade the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond before allowing any developments in the area.
This followed opposition by locals to the degazetting of the pond for a proposed housing development.
The pond will undergo degazettement to allow for a 2.1ha expansion, increasing its area to 63.5ha.
Despite previous opposition and government commitments that the development deal would be cancelled, a recent notice published by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) in the federal gazette had indicated a renewed push to develop the land under Section 64(2) of the National Land Code.
However, Tan said that degazetting and regazetting the land would go against the policy laid out in the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2040 (PSKL 2040) gazetted in October 2023 that available public land must be maintained, with ponds and lakes maintained as open recreational areas.
She cited PSKL 2040, which said that maintaining ponds and lakes as well as the surrounding green areas should be prioritised by upgrading flood retention ponds as open recreational areas.
“Violations of this policy should not be allowed as it is (part of) the development plan for the next 20 years,” she said.
Tan also called on Anwar to establish a platform of discussion on the matter between the residents’ association, the federal territories land and mines office (PTGWP), the AGC and the legal affairs division.
She urged PTGWP and Kuala Lumpur City Hall to refer to Kuala Lumpur’s structure and local plans before approving changes in land zoning and ownership, especially for public open areas.