AUTHORITIES are warning the public not to fall prey to a suspicious claim of space for rent involving a prime corner lot in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, as advertised on social media.
The advertisement stated that a one-and-a-half-storey building in Jalan Vista Mutiara 1, boasting a wide frontage and spacious dining area said to be ideal for F&B trade, is for rent at RM20,000 monthly.
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng urged the public not to be misled, confirming that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had not issued any development order or valid permit for such an operation.
The building on DBKL land previously operated as a food court under a lease agreement from 2018 to 2021, he said.
According to a written reply from DBKL, he revealed, the premises’ operational licence was revoked in October 2023 due to massive rent arrears.
He added: “The rent arrears over a three-year period totalled RM100,000.”
Lim said this led to an eviction in January 2024 and no permit had been issued to develop the land since.
Detailing how his office recently received inquiries about the rental and subsequently tracking down the social media post, Lim said: “When we did a site visit two weeks ago, we found that contractors had started clearing the building and transporting metal sheets to refurbish the area.”
His team immediately alerted DBKL, which then sealed the place and posted a notice on Sept 19 warning against trespassing.
While no information on possible victims had been received, Lim suspected that someone might have falsely claimed to have obtained approval to run the premises.
He noted that such fraudulent advertisements were not just happening in Kepong but also other parts of Kuala Lumpur.
“DBKL should have more stringent checks on these premises to prevent irresponsible people from taking advantage of the situation,” he urged.
