No one should make a fuss over the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)’s decision to build a RM300 million building for itself because DBKL is using its own money, Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor said.

He says this in response to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok who questioned why DBKL is building this pricey building when it just spend a reported seven-figure sum in renovating its current premises at Jalan Raja Abdullah.

"We need to build it so all our departments will be in one place and we can (better) serve the people. Now we have three buildings.

"I don’t understand why she (Kok) is making noise. This tower will only be ready in five years, not even in my time[...]

"We didn’t borrow money to build it, we have our own money. Even when we rent another building, it is using our money,” he said told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Build low-cost flats instead

Kok last week said the idea is "crazy" and the money could be better spent on building more low-cost flats.

Tengku Adnan in a parliamentary written reply to Kok said the redevelopment of Menara DBKL 2 will cost RM300 million, with RM1 million allocated for this year to prepare the design.

 

"If implemented, the project is slated for completion after year 2020," the minister had said.

The new building would include a special space for a one-stop centre and automation facilities for applications, approvals and consultations.

 

The Star last November reported that the project entails the demolition of the existing 12-storey DBKL building and constructing new buildings on the site.

 

The proposed design - selected from a competition - features a total of four towers, including the existing Menara 1 and a new 57-storey skyscraper. The Menara 1 building is a gazetted heritage building.