MB: We want Malays to own good class properties in Klang Valley

SHAH ALAM: Selangor wants to foster a Malay community which is able to own good class properties in Klang Valley, said Mentri Besar Azmin Ali.

Referring to the controversy of the Datuk Jelatek upscale condominium project near Keramat, where a group of protesters objected to the development on the grounds that “Malays cannot afford them”, Azmin said 680 units had already been allocated for bumiputras, while the expression of interest from them reached 1,200.

“Who said Malays can’t buy? Don’t play with these sentiments,” Azmin said after attending an event at the state secretariat here yesterday where accreditation letters were presented to village headmen.

Azmin said the buyers of the condominium units were former residents of the Jalan Enggang low cost flats which were demolished to make way for the project.

“They are the residents of Jalan Enggang, maybe not the first generation, but the second generation.

“Their parents may not have been able to afford, but their children can as they are engineers and doctors,” said Azmin.

“The problem with Perkasa is that they associate Malays with squatter or low-cost homes,” he added.

Datum Jelatek Action Committee chairman Salleh Samad alleged the project was not beneficial to Malays as most were not able to shell out RM700,000.

On another matter, Azmin said there were no plans for Selangor to emulate Negri Sembilan in implementing laws requiring those wanting to convert to Islam to first divorce their spouse.

“Something like this needs discussion and deliberation by all relevant parties and authorities first, and this is not easy,” said Azmin, who was accompanied by PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.