KUALA LUMPUR – Tan Sri Annuar Musa will take legal action against Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai after the latter accused him of selling 42 plots of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) land since becoming Federal Territories minister.
He said the DAP lawmaker’s claim is baseless and defamatory, and has affected his reputation as well as that of DBKL.
Annuar maintained that since he became minister about eight months ago, he has not received any application from DBKL pertaining to the sale of its assets.
“This is a serious accusation. I have read the comments made on social media, many are condemning me based on Tan’s slander.
“I have ordered my lawyers to initiate legal action against him, based on existing processes. I’ve taken this decision because his statement was false,” he told a press conference in the Parliament building today.
Annuar said he is disappointed that a seasoned parliamentarian would resort to making such accusations instead of formally asking for an explanation in the Dewan Rakyat.
Tan yesterday said under Anwar’s watch, 42 plots of DBKL land have been sold to private entities, and questioned whether the deals were rushed through or done by the book.
He based his claim on DBKL’s three notices to alter the KL City Plan 2020, with the latest notice indicating changes to 33 plots.
The earlier two notices indicated changes to three and six plots each.
Annuar said the request for changes to the total 42 plots involved private owners who wanted amendments to the plan, to allow them to develop their land.
He pointed out that under existing provisions, landowners have the right to apply for such amendments, following which, the matter will be processed by DBKL before being handed over to the minister for approval.
“Owners can come to DBKL if they wish to develop their land, and if they have a separate plan to the one that was gazetted.
“There’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, DBKL is duty-bound to ensure the process goes smoothly. But I can say for sure that since becoming (FT) minister, none of the 42 applications has reached me.” – The Vibes, November 19, 2020
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