Not practical to cancel Rimba Kiara TTDI project, says Foreign Minister – Metro News

Khalid Abdul Samad (peak) hopes that residents of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) will come with an open mind when they sit on the joint working committee with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP) to resolve the controversial problem involving Taman Rimba Kiara.

The federal Minister of the Federal Territories said: "I hope that they will be open to discussion and do not insist on wanting me to cancel the project."

"I can not do what they want (to pay the developer)," he said.

"Some people are of the opinion that the project is illegal and should be canceled and that we should repay the developer (compensation) and recover the land," he said.

Khalid said that if he did, it would mean that he should also cancel all other projects in Kuala Lumpur.

"If we cancel the Taman Rimba Kiara project, this will require a minimum payment of at least RM 200 million.

"If I had to cancel 10 projects that violated KL's local plan, that would be RM2bil.

"We could as well as bring DBKL closer, it's not wise to tap into DBKL's reserves just to pay developers," he told reporters at a press conference at DBKL's headquarters today. (November 27)

Khalid said the best he can do is reduce the project.

"Let's say that if the developers refuse to accept the offer and we sue for loss of profit, which can reach billions. So I can not do that (cancel projects), I also have a responsibility, "he said.

"We can discuss the reduction or reduction of the project, which will allow us to obtain benefits without having to spend a lot of money," he said.

"Although we have not yet discussed with the joint committee, I still want to talk with the developer to reduce the project," said Khalid.

The proposal to create a joint committee was proposed by Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh at a plenary session last week.

The joint working committee will include representatives of the TTDI Residents Association, residents of Bukit Kiara Longhouse and representatives of Yeoh, DBKL, YWP and the Ministry of the FT.

With the committee, Khalid hoped that a conclusion could be drawn on the long-outstanding issue.

In 2016, TTDI residents opposed a massive development project of nine blocks of high-end equipped apartments, between 42 and 54 floors.

This also included the construction of a 29-storey block comprising 350 affordable housing units for residents of the Bukit Kiara Longhouse, which had been relocated years ago.

The residents then applied for judicial review at the High Court in order to override the conditional building permission and the planning order granted by DBKL. But this was rejected by the court in December 2017.