Malaysiakini - A stubborn and ill-advised FT minister:
Letter by KL Resident
It’s a wonder no eggs were thrown at the new Federal Territories Minister minister during the TTDI town hall meeting on Nov 23.
Perhaps many were too shocked or have yet to digest the fact that the government for whom they threw all their weight behind and supported for a change against corruption would appoint an FT minister who would betray their collective wishes, well-being, and hard work in protecting Taman Rimba and their neighbourhood.
The town hall meeting ended with a way forward by setting up a joint working committee with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP), the TTDI Residents Association (RA) and the longhouses RAs.
But the minister was then later quoted as saying: “I hope they will be open to discussions and not be stubborn about wanting me to cancel the project.’’
Is the new FT minister of the opinion that KL residents are just “stubborn” middle-class people with small issues that he could solve in a simplistic manner at our expense?
Khalid Samad needs to be reminded that he is dealing with ordinary residents who pay taxes and his decisions affect the way we live and the spaces where we make our homes.
If Khalid is disinterested in his job as the FT minister, the Pakatan Harapan government must have him replaced with someone competent and answerable to KL voters before things get worse.
For sure, new ministers must be given a chance to govern and to fix all that’s broken. People will be patient so long as you show the will and some level of competency to do the right thing.
In the case of the new FT minister, how is he even proud to announce to the residents that he is the first to gazette the KL city plan (as though it is an achievement) when he gazetted a version of the plan without consultation with local residents?
A version of the plan with mixed development for our Taman Rimba? This is a complete betrayal to the residents’ long and difficult fight against development to save the park.
Scaling down the development is not the solution – does he honestly think developers don't expect people to protest and that scaling down as part of a so-called negotiation would not be part of their plan? A “scaled down” development would be a victory on the developer's part, cause destruction to the park and lead to a complete loss of trust and faith in the Harapan government.
Arguments against Khalid’s reasons for not scrapping project have been presented clearly by local planning experts that can be found here and here.
Nothing short of cancelling the project planned for Taman Rimba would be acceptable; a strong message must be sent to developers that local residents must always be consulted and meaningfully engaged before a development project is approved; that was never the way things worked and clearly not how the new FT minister works too.
If the Harapan government allows a developer that has been associated with individuals on corruption charges to get away with going through with this project, you will not convince your voters of your sincerity and will lend fire to your detractor’s claim that Harapan is “no different” than the previous regime, and worse, you will betray your supporters. And if this minister is allowed to betray our voters who fought so hard, what does it mean to the rest of KL voters and beyond?
So please replace Khalid with someone competent and answerable to KL voters who genuinely engages and understands the issue with the will to find a real solution.
One who won’t be “stubborn” in not cancelling the unnecessary project at Taman Rimba. Otherwise, expect to lose parliamentary seats in KL in the next general election. #pecatkhalid
Perhaps many were too shocked or have yet to digest the fact that the government for whom they threw all their weight behind and supported for a change against corruption would appoint an FT minister who would betray their collective wishes, well-being, and hard work in protecting Taman Rimba and their neighbourhood.
The town hall meeting ended with a way forward by setting up a joint working committee with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP), the TTDI Residents Association (RA) and the longhouses RAs.
But the minister was then later quoted as saying: “I hope they will be open to discussions and not be stubborn about wanting me to cancel the project.’’
Is the new FT minister of the opinion that KL residents are just “stubborn” middle-class people with small issues that he could solve in a simplistic manner at our expense?
Maybe #SaveTamanRimbaKiara movement is not interesting enough an issue for him like the Harapan Coin.
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wakakaka |
Khalid Samad needs to be reminded that he is dealing with ordinary residents who pay taxes and his decisions affect the way we live and the spaces where we make our homes.
If Khalid is disinterested in his job as the FT minister, the Pakatan Harapan government must have him replaced with someone competent and answerable to KL voters before things get worse.
For sure, new ministers must be given a chance to govern and to fix all that’s broken. People will be patient so long as you show the will and some level of competency to do the right thing.
In the case of the new FT minister, how is he even proud to announce to the residents that he is the first to gazette the KL city plan (as though it is an achievement) when he gazetted a version of the plan without consultation with local residents?
A version of the plan with mixed development for our Taman Rimba? This is a complete betrayal to the residents’ long and difficult fight against development to save the park.
Scaling down the development is not the solution – does he honestly think developers don't expect people to protest and that scaling down as part of a so-called negotiation would not be part of their plan? A “scaled down” development would be a victory on the developer's part, cause destruction to the park and lead to a complete loss of trust and faith in the Harapan government.
Arguments against Khalid’s reasons for not scrapping project have been presented clearly by local planning experts that can be found here and here.
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Nothing short of cancelling the project planned for Taman Rimba would be acceptable; a strong message must be sent to developers that local residents must always be consulted and meaningfully engaged before a development project is approved; that was never the way things worked and clearly not how the new FT minister works too.
If the Harapan government allows a developer that has been associated with individuals on corruption charges to get away with going through with this project, you will not convince your voters of your sincerity and will lend fire to your detractor’s claim that Harapan is “no different” than the previous regime, and worse, you will betray your supporters. And if this minister is allowed to betray our voters who fought so hard, what does it mean to the rest of KL voters and beyond?
So please replace Khalid with someone competent and answerable to KL voters who genuinely engages and understands the issue with the will to find a real solution.
One who won’t be “stubborn” in not cancelling the unnecessary project at Taman Rimba. Otherwise, expect to lose parliamentary seats in KL in the next general election. #pecatkhalid
In the coming cabinet reshuffle Khalid Samad should swap ministries with Teresa Kok, a KL MP.
ReplyDeleteTiger Teresa, born and raised in KL, has many years of experience in local politics, is much respected by KL-ites and is better skilled to understand and clean up the KL mess left behind. She is a bit lost in Primary Industries. Defending palm oil in Europe and looking after the livelihoods of local smallholders etc is not her forte. Khalid is better equipped to tackle these issues.
Also, Khalid's announcement about 1.00am closure for entertainment outlets shows he does not understand that cities like KL live and thrive on night life, unlike Kota Baru where he was born and Shah Alam where he is serving a second term as MP.
Khalid is orang Johor. His brother Shahrir was born in Kuantan, is also orang Johor.
DeleteWiki must be wrong then.
DeleteBorn: August 14, 1957 (age 61 years), Kota Bharu
His father, orang Muar, Johor, was a teacher and who had worked in several states.
DeleteEx orang Pas, biasa la semua kena tutup. Aurat ke, entertainment centre ke, semua mau tutup. But since he's new 'renaissance', we are lucky enough to have 1 a.m closure. Kalau bagi Edi Awang, the holiest of the holy would want it closed permanently, not 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. So we can say there's a sort of improvement ? wakakakaka
DeleteI believe Harapan is facing a fait accompli on this development.
ReplyDeleteBy May 9 2018, the project had already proceeded to a point where if the Federal Government ordered the project cancelled outright, substantial damages and compensation would be payable to the Developer.
The Australian Resident in Sydney, when it serves his purposes, condemns the Harapan Government for "not respecting the sanctity of contracts and agreements".
And then, like this case, condemn the government for actually respecting the process.
Banyak Makan Dedak kot.
stop tokking-kok - public demands the development stops
DeleteOne example of the mess left behind.
ReplyDeleteMy friend who lives in KL has a neighbour which is a monstrous 25-story commercial building, built right net to single and double story houses. Obviously against local planning rules but the project went ahead anyway. The only solution is compensation to affected neighbours, no way the building will be torn down now. Everyone knows there was hanky panky involved but to prove it will take years in court, and there is no guarantee of success. In the meantime the houses have lost 20-30% value.
So who will pay compensation?
"public demands the development stops"... but the project approvals had already proceeded to the stage where the Government would have to pay compensation for outright cancellation.
ReplyDeleteThe Minister is proposing a constructive solution where a modified mixed development proceeds with part of the wilderness preserved.
What is so be about that ?
This is the perpetual dilemma of Ah Moc ever since he went over to De Dak side. To write honestly with full disclosure will cost him the dedak. To spew half baked story and ended with the required gusto of condemnation will please his master but he has to content with his visitors here dissing him kau kau for being the hypocrite that he is and being disingenuous. But it looks like he's willing to do daily battle, seeing how he's hell bent to continue in this vein, wakakakaka. What's a little sparring when the reward is so satisfying....
DeleteYeah like rumpelstillskin.......
DeleteGuess what happened to rumpelstillskin in the end
Cheebye motherfucker kaytee never read fables......Haizzzz
I did NOT fCk your mother so stop calling me your motherfucker - I am NOT, repeat, NOT your father
DeleteThis Taman Rimba land belongs to whom? Another developer?
ReplyDeleteWhy don't the residents staying there and all those who wants the park collect their monies and buy up the land and preserve it?
Why 1 law for the rich and 1 law for the poor?
Ask motherfucker cheebye kaytee.....He seems to know all except Najib
DeleteI did NOT fCk your mother so stop calling me your motherfucker - I am NOT, repeat, NOT your father
DeleteHahahaha.....but cheebye motherfucker kaytee cojones are with rosmah....she is squashing them happily
DeleteI did NOT fCk your mother so stop calling me your motherfucker - I am NOT, repeat, NOT your father
Deletey tis tmn tun resident so stubborn one, y cant they do like penangates, abide by what ever development dap govt did?
ReplyDelete"The town hall meeting ended with a way forward by setting up a joint working committee with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP), the TTDI Residents Association (RA) and the longhouses RAs."
ReplyDeleteI have had the experience of being part of the team that protested and thwarted two residential developments.
We attended every meeting with the Developer/DBKL/Minister. We recorded and minuted every deliberations and decisions. We researched and reasoned out all the pros and cons of the issues raised.
We engaged expert to study every word of the developer's reports and analysis and challenged them especially on safety, density, pollution, congestion, peace and serenity, flora and fauna, environmental and health hazards, governmental policies and promises, collateral damages/effects, etc.. We also caveated the land.
It was not easy but we succeeded.
Dont talk so much! What happen to orang asli pemberontakan against cheebye kelantan govt
DeleteFucker....your mufti asks u to fuck off