273 approvals in KL City Plan 2020 not in original draft, says lawyer
The gazetted Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 saw the inclusion of 273 approvals that were not in the original drafted plan, said a lawyer whose expertise is in local government matters.
Derek Fernandez said the approvals included matters on increased plot ratio and density levels beyond Kuala Lumpur's carrying capacity, according to Free Malaysia Today online news site.
"This permits unsustainable development and makes KL City Hall's (DBKL) rule 5 (to empower the public) and the right for the public to object 'illusionary'", Fernandez was quoted as saying.
"I am in full support of the gazettement of the city plan, but not the one which includes approvals the public never had a chance to view," he told the news portal.
Saying that the government should remove the approvals, Fernandez (photo) stressed that they could be included later when the plan is amended.
The public must have the right to view and object to the approvals, he added.
“The government must also restore meaning to Rule 5 by providing objectors access to relevant documents.”
Fernandez also claimed that the inclusion had made the situation a lot worse compared to when DBKL was under the BN administration.
He said DBKL's rule 5 was designed to allow public participation in the local government's planning and development control.
The lawyer claimed that the rule was, however, "diluted" in 1994, which saw objections to a new development limited to only those that involved change in land status and density.
It made the rule ineffective as DBKL did not provide copies of documents "critical to the people to make an informed objection", he said.
Malaysiakini has sent requests for comment to Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad and DBKL corporate communications.
The FT Minster must get some KL projects idea from the people’s not from the Old BN DBKL senior staffs to discuss 2020 KL Plan .
One of the critical impact of corrupt/incompetent approvals is the traffic mess such create. Maybe, take this approval out of DBKL and have an independent body that gives approval for traffic impact assessments. KS and his senior team must be looking at more innovative and efficient ways to upgrade DBKL delivery. So far it looks like business as usual. PH manifesto and proclamations were just a slogan. Sad and Angry!
The AG needs to review the gazetting of a false plan by this clown of a minister Khalid Samad. KL MPs please drop your elegant silence and slam KS for his con-job in gazetting a plan that sides with Malton Group aka Datin Handbag and Ekovest aka The Man who can block roads and put up traffic lights at his house because he doesnt like jams. Come on la the time to deliver is now DAP and PKR, it is your MPs that are the majority here and we wanted a minister from either of these party's not Khalid who cant spell the name of his ministry right. We dont want to wait 5 years for more promises. This is something that can be delivered today!