PETALING JAYA (Dec 13): Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) has allegedly sold 45 parcels of land measuring a total 238.08 acres without open tender, alleged Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai.

The opposition lawmaker cited two parliamentary replies dated March 22 and July 27 saying the plots were sold from 2013 to July 14 this year, according to a report by the Malay Mail Online.

Tan claimed that some public land and green lungs were sold for private use and then converted for property development, and these projects were approved despite public amenities not being sufficiently provided.

He further alleged the sale of these lands without open tender took place after Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor became Federal Territories Minister in May 2013.

In a Malaysiakini report, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng claimed Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz said the open tender process is “sometimes not a good thing”.

Citing a case where DBKL had sold some prime land via open tender to the highest bidder, the mayor said the buyer had not developed the land owing to poor market conditions.

“So the mayor said if he had not sold it to the highest bidder and not through open tender, he could have sold it at a reasonable price.

“Then the developer could have sold (units from the development) at a more reasonable price to housebuyers. Then, everyone will be happy.

“He (Amin) said that sometimes, selling through open tender to the highest bidder is not a good thing,” Lim added.