Selangor land deal draws flak

PUZZLING: Cultural centre to be built on land belonging to Yayasan Selangor

(NST) – THE state government has been asked to explain the status of a 7.4ha land  belonging to Yayasan Selangor, which has recently been approved for the construction of a Chinese cultural centre.

Yayasan Selangor (YS) Alumni Action Committee chairman Badrulzaman Baharudin said the failure of Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to defend the land, with an estimated value of RM60 million, was proof that the state government had been selling all the foundation’s assets to fund its losses.

Badrulzaman, who represents more than 20,000 alumni members, called on the state government to cancel the proposal, after it had earlier decided to demolish the Tun Dr Ismail and Toh Puan Norashikin hostels at Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur, for development at the end of the year.

“State executive councillor Elizabeth Wong had issued a  letter to the menteri besar, dated March  21 last year, requesting the approval for the cultural centre to be built at land lot PT 4221.

“We also received information that the land transaction had happened at short notice with approval gained on May 18 last year.

“How did the deal go through so soon in less than two months? Who made the call? And why was there no discussion within YS management  prior to the decision?”

YS Hostel Alumni Association president Captain (R) Azme Dollah  claimed that the Kampung Pandan hostel would be closed after the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination was over at the end of the year.   He said Form Two and Four students had  been ordered to move out of the hostel early this year.

“The aim was to provide students from rural areas a chance to adapt to urban life.  What will happen to them?”  

Azme said the excuse to close down the hostel for development to generate income made no sense as YS had declared RM51 million in reserves while the state government had declared RM2.1 billion in its reserves.