Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on May 17, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YMP), the registered owner of the land earmarked for development in the Taman Rimba Kiara area, has clarified that the scaled-down version of the project will not encroach into the boundaries of the public park there.

Briefing the media at the project site yesterday, YMP chief executive officer, Zaizalnizam Zainun, said the project now covers about eight acres (3.24ha) compared with the initial 12 acres.

“Rest assured the development will only encompass areas that have been permitted. Indeed, the initial plan is 12 acres but we have reduced it and it will not go over into the area of Taman Rimba Kiara,” he said.

With the reduced area of development, Zaizalnizam said four acres will be returned to Kuala Lumpur City Hall for the use of the public to gain access to the park.

He added that the area will be upgraded with a parking lot and a green area for visitors of the park.

 “We will return the four acres to Taman Rimba Kiara where we will upgrade so that there will be parking and green areas for the convenience of the visitors of the park. The upgrade and transfer of land ownership is free,” he added.

Zaizalnizam said the first phase of the development will involve the construction of two blocks of condominium as well as the “Rumah Mampu Milik Wilayah Persekutuan” (Rumawip).

Some 100 units of Rumawip will be given to the first generation of the longhouse residents for free, and another 100 units will be sold at 50% of the market price to the second generation of residents.

“We will start construction of Rumawip first as part of Phase 1. After it is completed, then only the residents of the longhouse will move into their new homes. And then will start constructing Phase 2.

 Under the revised plan, the project will comprise  four blocks of condominiums occupying eight acres, compared with the initial eight blocks of high-end condominiums occupying 12 acres.

He said YMP has spent a total of RM155 million for the project, including RM60 million for land premium. Under the scaled-down plan of the project, the initial expected gross development value of RM3 billion has been cut down to half, he added.

Currently, the status of the project is up to the approval of the cabinet after the issue was brought up by Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad. On Wednesday, Segambut member of parliament Hannah Yeoh said her counterproposal will be presented together with this proposal for the cabinet to decide the next course of action.

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