KUALA LUMPUR: The issue concerning a housing project near the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond has led to a lawyer familiar with land issues questioning how the developer was given land for the project.
Nasser Yusof from Taman Kinrara said the developer had paid premium of RM41.7 million for the purpose of developing the land even before a public hearing - which was held today, could take place.
"From what we gathered, the developer has already paid for the land premium while the public hearing is taking place today (Monday).
"We ask for transparency and for all the affected stakeholders, especially residents and the elected representatives in the surrounding areas to be engaged throughout the process," said Nasser, who is also Seputeh Umno division secretary.
Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok has raised safety concerns over the planned housing project near the flood retention pond.
She said one of the six plots of lands awarded to the developer sits on an area previously gazetted as a retention pond and this raised doubts over the safety of the residential units to be built there.
Kok said this is the reason why an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in accordance with the Enviromental Quality (Prescribed Activities)(Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2015 was essential.
"In addition, we can only imagine the traffic congestion here, especially with the rising number of vehicles from the housing project," she told reporters after a site visit to the retention pond area.
The MP said a portion of the 26.8 acre (10.84ha) land alienated for housing development located in her constituency and bordering Taman Kinrara in the Selangor side, overlaps with the Kesas Highway right-of-way.
This makes any future plan for road expansion on the stretch to accommodate the increasing traffic difficult, she said.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the Federal Territories Lands and Mines Office would study all feedback from stakeholders including views gathered at public hearing.
"Currently, there are no details on the housing project near the flood retention pond yet as the developer has not submitted any documents on it.
"The developer will be required to conduct a TIA (Traffic Impact Assessment), social impact assessment and EIA to look at the housing project feasibility," she told reporters after a site visit.
Dr Zaliha earlier attended a closed-door meeting with Kok, Cheras member of Parliament Tan Kok Wai and residents representatives at the Kampung Muhibbah community complex located next to the site.
It was reported that the developer has committed to bear the cost for flood retention pond upgrading work for RM40 million as part of its winning bid for a housing project tender.
Three of the six plots of land will be used for affordable housing, while the developer would be free to decide the types of residential properties it wants to build on the three other plots.
Some residents have previously called for the retention pond site to be preserved as it is.
Questions have also been raised on the rationale behind awarding prime land to the housing developer in exchange for the company's promise of deepening the pond for a mere RM40 million.