The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has urged the government to review the alienation and development of land adjacent to the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond to ensure transparency and protect public interest.
The recommendation was part of PAC’s probe into land development issues in Kuala Lumpur, which falls under the jurisdiction of the federal territories department and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
PAC chairman Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the committee was informed in its proceedings that decisions of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur working committee were made by consensus among members with heavy reliance on technical agency reviews.
It said approval would not be granted if there were objections or conflicting opinions, or without DBKL’s clearance, which is expected to include stakeholder engagement.
“However, in the Kampung Bohol retention pond case, objections from 1,275 residents were disregarded when the land was alienated to the developer,” she said in a statement.
She also said differing views on the technical specifications of the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond covering its design, depth, size, and maintenance were identified as a critical issue, raising concerns that the pond’s flood-control function could be compromised.
In August last year, former federal territories minister Khalid Samad urged Putrajaya to do more to assuage the concerns of residents in Kampung Bohol who had protested against the development of plots of land adjacent to a retention pond in the area, southwest of the city.
At a forum held by a coalition for the preservation of the flood retention pond, Khalid said the government had failed to explain how the development would not cause floods and had pressed on with its decision.
At the same forum, lawyer Nasser Yusof, representing Kampung Bohol residents, said they were considering taking legal action over the proposed development.
The residents previously voiced opposition to the degazetting of the pond for a proposed housing development, calling for the development to be suspended over fears of a risk of flooding in the area and increased traffic congestion.
On May 16, federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the government had made it a “mandatory condition” for the developer to upgrade the retention pond before any development order is issued.
The Bohol flood retention pond is located near Taman Kinrara, bordering Petaling Jaya.
