Liu shows proof it was all BN’s work
Selangor state exco Ronnie Liu presents documented evidence showing BN’s hand in approving the Batu Caves condominium project
Leven Woon, FMT
BATU CAVES: The Selangor state government today provided evidence showing Barisan Nasional’s hand in approving the proposed condominium project near the Batu Caves Temple.
Ronnie Liu, the Selangor executive councillor (exco) for local government today showed planning approvals issued on Nov 30, 2007 that details the height, size and type of the development slated on the land.
“The approval, signed by the then Selayang Municipal Council president, Zainal Abidin Azim, was done with the full knowledge of the then BN councillors,” he said.
“The planning approvals state clearly that the whole development consists of two blocks of 29-storey service apartment, and another 25-storey apartment, with shophouses fronting it.
“Hence, no one, including the Batu Caves temple committee chairman, should put the blame on the Pakatan government,” said Liu at the site of the proposed development.
Liu’s revelation comes a day after a protest by about 300 people against the project, calling Pakatan state government to scrap the project.
Deputy Foreign Minister, A Kohilan Pillay, who was a MPS councillor at that time, said that BN was only responsible for the issuance of the preliminary planning approval.
He blamed Pakatan for the subsequent building approval and marketing proposals, paving the way for the project to take shape.
Debunking the claims today, Liu said the state government could not do anything after a planning approval is issued.
“Planning approval means an overall greenlight. Kohilan is trying to bullshit everyone by saying that we can give planning approval but not execution approval,” he said.
He explained that the building approval, which was issued in March 2008, was the work of the BN councillors.
He said this was because the Pakatan Rakyat councillors were only sworn in, in July 2008, though they took over the state leadership in March after the general election.
Not bothered by legal threat
When asked about the marketing approval, Liu said it was under the purview of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
“It has nothing to do with us. Nothing has been done by Pakatan to support the project,” he said.
