Check your facts, says Shahidan on flood retention ponds
Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim lambasted several opposition MPs over claims that several flood retention ponds in Kuala Lumpur were alienated for development by his predecessors and the then Kuala Lumpur mayors.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to flood victims yesterday, Shahidan claimed that the MPs had gotten their facts wrong and asked them to check their information before making such allegations.
According to the minister, approvals to develop the land plots, given between 2015 and last year, were not by the then Federal Territories Ministers or mayors.
Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim (above) lambasted several opposition MPs over claims that several flood retention ponds in Kuala Lumpur were alienated for development by his predecessors and the then Kuala Lumpur mayors.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to flood victims yesterday, Shahidan claimed that the MPs had gotten their facts wrong and asked them to check their information before making such allegations.
According to the minister, approvals to develop the land plots, given between 2015 and last year, were not by the then Federal Territories Ministers or mayors.
"Most of the land plots in the Federal Territories are owned by the Department of Director General of Lands and Mines, which is a federal government agency under the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry.
"If we want to build a building, we will have to apply to the federal government.
"If they want to point fingers at ministers (for giving such approval), I want to tell them to check their facts first," he said, in response to Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil.
Yesterday, Fahmi issued a statement demanding Shahidan and former Federal Territories Ministers Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Annuar Musa to reveal who was responsible for changing the plan for six land plots in Kuala Lumpur, which were initially earmarked for flood retention ponds.
He referred to a 2019 Auditor-General's report which listed out the date when the six ponds were approved for development, and which companies they went to.
The six retention ponds in question were the Batu pond, Nanyang pond, Delima pond, Taman Wahyu pond, Batu 4 1/2 pond, and Taman Desa pond.
Prior to that, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh had urged the MACC to investigate the alienation of the six flood retention ponds.
The call came after Malaysia was hit by widespread floods in several states due to torrential downpours and was warned of a potential second wave of floods.
Touching on the call for authorities to investigate the matter, Shahidan suggested that the opposition leaders lodge an official complaint.
"It's okay. They want to lodge reports and make accusations outside the parliament, then they will have to face (the consequences) because they are doing it outside the parliament.
"This is their opinion, if they are not satisfied, they can lodge a report," he said.
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