Teresa Kok dismisses report over FT ministership

PETALING JAYA (June 13): Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has refuted a report that she will be sworn in as Federal Territories Minister.

“Fake news,” she told EdgeProp.my via WhatsApp.

A news portal had reported this morning that the DAP stalwart will helm the Federal Territories ministry.

Several urgent issues will undoubtedly await the incoming Federal Territories Minister.

A number of contentious property development projects that involve the ministry had emerged over the years, with high-profile cases involving high-rise, high-density developments in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) and Taman Desa in Kuala Lumpur.

The ministry had also been in the spotlight recently when it was recently alleged that Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), which falls under the auspices of the ministry, was involved in the dubious transfer of 64 parcels of land totaling 424.29 acres and having a transaction value of RM4.28 billion from 2013 to 2018.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng had claimed that less than half of these lands were sold for the development of Federal Territories Affordable Housing (RUMAWIP) while the rest were earmarked for expensive residential and commercial developments priced at market value.

MACC is investigating these claims and had seized documents from DBKL related to these transactions.

These issues, among others, have prompted non-governmental organisations such as the Save KL Coalition to urge the government to quickly gazette the Draft KL City Plan 2020.

Rural Development Minister and Titiwangsa MP Rina Mohd Harun said a decision will be made over the draft plan after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities.