The Selangor government today named a five-member panel to investigate the government's approval of a condominium project situated next to the Batu Caves limestone hill.

 

The five members are Klang district Orang Besar Abdul Ghani Pateh Akhir, neurosurgeon Dr M Nachiappan, former judicial commissioner Ranita Hussein, building law expert Harbans Singh and geologist Tan Boon Kong.

 

Their names were released by Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in a press statement today. The time-frame and terms of reference of the panel were not specified.

 

"They will investigate the issue independently and professionally. We are confident that the independent committee will be able to advise the state government in handling the issue transparently and with integrity," Khalid said.  

Initially, the state government was supposed to name the panel during the second week of November but it was delayed as some experts approached had rejected their appointments.

 

Selangor has promised to look into how the condominium project was approved, given its proximity to Batu Caves hillslope, which houses a Hindu temple complex.

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The controversy was sparked by MIC's demonstration , blaming the Selangor state government for ignoring Hindu sensitivities.

 

It was later discovered that the Selayang Municipal Council approved of the project back in 2007 , when the council comprised BN component party members.

In another development, Khalid announced that Alinah Ahmad would take over as the mayor of Petaling Jaya City on Jan 1.

 

Alinah is currently chief executive officer of the Selangor housing board.

Her predecessor, Mohamad Roslan Sakiman, was transferred under mysterious circumstances by Putrajaya. 

There have been speculation that Mohamad Roslan was shipped out because Putrajaya did not like his "cozy ties" with the Pakatan Rakyat state government.