KUALA LUMPUR: Where is our open space as promised? This is the question in the minds of Bangsar residents, wondering just why the authorities still delay the return of an open space 'taken' away from them more than 30 years ago.
"Whether the open space was intentionally or mistakenly taken away from us is not the question anymore. We have been promised that open space by the authorities and it is time for promises to be delivered," said Bangsar Baru Resident Association president Datuk George Joseph.
"We were grateful for the promise by KL mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail shortly after assuming office in 2008 that the land would be returned to the people and it would remain an open space. But the promise has yet to be delivered."
In Dec 2008, The Malay Mail frontpaged the story of a plot of land — now estimated to be worth RM17 million — that housed a luxury car showroom instead of being a public open land.
The 22,000 square foot plot in Jalan Maarof, opposite the Saidina Abu Bakar As-Siddiq Mosque, was surrendered by the developer Eng Lian Enterprise to the authorities in 1977 as part of the condition of the development plans.
The land, which was supposed to have been gazetted as an open space for residents, had been 'home' to an open-air luxury car showroom for the past 15 years.
Melor Travels Sdn Bhd paid a premium of RM2 million and obtained a 99-year lease on the land.
While there were many grey areas on the status of the land and whether any party had forgotten to make an application to gazette it as an open space, the mayor intervened and stated the land would go back to the people and City Hall would not approve any development plans there.
An alternative site of equal value was to have been given to Melor Travels in exchange for the piece of land. The task of looking for an alternative site was assigned to the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office.
In July last year, The Paper That Cares reported that Melor Travels had rejected several alternative sites identified by the FT land and mine office. Then Land Office deputy director Yahaya Mohamad informed City Hall to take over the case but Ahmad Fuad insisted taht the issue was a land matter which should be dealt with by the former.
The mayor had also said that the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry was given clear instructions after a post-Cabinet meeting last year for the Land Office to find a solution.
When The Malay Mail met the Land Office director Hasim Ismail some time ago, he also reiterated a couple of alternative plots of land were offered to Melor Travels but the latter was interested.
The new piece of land must be something logical which can be accepted by Melor Travels and the value of the alternative land must be of equal standing, Ahmad Fuad was then quoted as saying.
Joseph said he did not know why the delay in settling the matter. "City Hall must have the will and courage to rectify the problem.
"When Ahmad Fuad took office, we were happy saying 'here comes the saviour', and he stepped in and said the matter would be resolved.
"The mayor has a lot of courage and there has been a lot of changes which have taken place.
"Today, City Hall can be seen as a respectful organisation as there is a lot of check and balance, but we really hope they would solve this problem soon."
Joseph said if private residential homes could be acquired by the government to carry out road expansion works, he did not see why it could not be used to resolve the open issue.
"I am sure the Minister, Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, is working with the mayor as a team and the ministry should have the political will as it has a lot of muscle."
By PEARL LEE on Malay Mail
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 12:07:00
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