What the DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) seeks to do in asking developers to pay them the equivalent of the bumiputera discount before they release the unsold bumi lots in the completed housing scheme is nothing short of an extortion.

DBKL has no legal basis to do this. The development order issued by DBKL when approval was first granted to develop the land clearly sets out the terms and conditions which, inter alia, would have included this quota of bumi allotment and the time limit within which they must not be sold to non-bumis. If, after a year (or whatever time restraint is stated in the approval) has elapsed, these reserved bumi units would then be released for sale to non-bumis.

The affected developer should not give in to DBKL's act of extortion for so doing would only set a precedent on which they will build their onslaught of discriminating and oppressive policies. The developer should seek legal advice and make an application to the High Court for a declaration that they be allowed to release the bumi lots for sale as they have complied fully with the terms and conditions of the development order.

Very often, the so-called DBKL policies vacillate and are arbitrarily imposed, depending on the officers in charge. It is so sad that this country simply cannot move forward as the rule of meritocracy, and often the rule of law, is not practised.