The lawyer explained that Stella, Lim & Co, the firm he runs with his wife Stella Ng, was one of several solicitors acting for Melati Ehsan Consolidated Sdn Bhd (MECSB) in respect of the housing project.
Lim said they had been instructed by MECSB to “participate in constructive dialogue” with the Selangor government about MECSB’s proposal to surrender land voluntarily for both the affordable housing programme and relocation of affected places of worship.
“This engagement is grounded in the fundamental legal principle that every entity is entitled to legal representation, an essential component of access to justice and the rule of law in any democratic society,” he said in a statement today.
He also said his firm reserved its right to pursue appropriate legal remedies against all defamatory or unsubstantiated allegations.
Earlier today, Parti Sosialis Malaysia deputy chairman S Arutchelvan urged DAP to clarify its position on the controversy, following revelations that MECSB is represented by Stella, Lim & Co.
Arutchelvan described the situation as “deeply troubling” and flagged a potential conflict of interest, noting that while Pandamaran assemblyman Leong Tuck Chee spoke up for the affected residents in the state assembly and called for MECSB to be blacklisted, another DAP MP is representing the company.
He highlighted the firm’s issuance of a signed letter dated Nov 11 on MECSB’s behalf addressed to Selangor housing executive councillor Borhan Aman Shah.
The letter, sighted by FMT, denied that the developer had committed to handing over 3.2ha of land for the construction of apartments for the affected residents at a meeting with the state government last month.
“However, in the spirit of amicable resolution, our client is willing and prepared to hand over 2.8ha of land, including lots on Jalan Papan and Jalan Kerayong identified as sites for the relocation of Chinese temples as a win-win solution to the settlers’ issue.
“All 44 defendants currently appealing in the Court of Appeal must also retract their appeal immediately, with costs to be borne on their own and without permission to refile their appeal,” read the letter.
Lim reiterated that MECSB, “having lawfully obtained the requisite eviction orders from the Shah Alam High Court, is under no legal obligation to make any land surrender”.
“The comprehensive settlement proposal represents a bona fide gesture towards achieving an equitable resolution that harmonises developmental objectives with community interests,” he said.