The construction of an "illegal structure" in the backyard of a block of low-cost flats in Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, by an Umno division was due to confusion about the allocated land, a member of Parliament revealed today.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok Suh Sim said that the developer of the area concerned, Soon Tiek Development Bhd, confirmed to the Umno division of Bandar Tun Razak that it has handed over the jurisdiction of "a piece of land" - which is actually the football field situated near the flats - to the City Hall.

"What they (Soon Tiek) did not know was that the Umno division actually wanted the land in the backyard of the flats," Kok said.

The Umno division's letter dated Oct 24 and addressed to Kok explained that it had officially applied to use the area which was clearly stated as "near to Block 1 (Block G) of Taman Sri Endah" on July 8, 1997 from MCB Holdings Berhad, the property developer then.

Subsequently, on Aug 22, 1997, the new developer which took over from MCB, Soon Tiek - which agreed to the application - informed them that the land concerned had been handed over to the City Hall.

The division added that a letter dated Aug 20, 1997, indicated that the developer was no longer involved with "the land" and would not prevent the construction of a community hall which now falls under the jurisdiction of the City Hall.

Umno Bandar Tun Razak secretary Abd Zarin @ Zaharin Mohd Yasin wrote this in reply to a letter from Kok addressed to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad regarding the issue.

Kok revealed the content of the Umno division's letter to journalists on location in Taman Sri Endah today.

The DAP MP was attending a simple ceremony held by the residents to thank her for helping to stop the construction from proceeding in their backyard.

'No need for hall'

Earlier this month, residents of a block of the Taman Sri Endah low-cost flats were furious to discover that their backyard which used to be the children's playground was being excavated for the purpose of building an "unknown structure".

It was discovered that the "illegal structure" was actually a project under Umno Bandar Tun Razak. The Umno division maintained that they have the relevant approval from the Prime Minister's Department, including an allocation of RM68,000 for the construction of a "community hall".

However, the construction work was stopped and the excavated land refilled after the City Hall was believed to have sent a notice to both the property developer and the Umno division.

Although, the construction has halted, it is believed that the Umno division has not given up its intention to build a hall in the area.

It is now rumoured that the hall will be built on the field which was handed over to the City Hall.

Fearing this, about 220 families residing in the Taman Sri Endah low-cost flats have signed a petition protesting its construction, claiming that they will be deprived of the use of the field.

The Umno division should find another location for the hall as the area was not suitable, Kok said.

The housing area already has a community hall which carries the City Hall emblem, a school and a mosque.

However, in the same letter, Umno Bandar Tun Razak defended the need for another community hall there, claiming that the Malay-Muslim community there would find it "difficult" to use the City Hall's community hall as it could be "polluted from the point of religion as the hall is used by all races".