Let’s talk directly, Khalid tells critics

PUTRAJAYA: Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad has asked his critics to meet him directly to discuss the contentious Taman Rimba Kiara condominium project.

“I am trying to do my job and it is disappointing to hear all these comments being made about me in the media. I inherited

this problem and I am trying my best to solve it.

“To say that I am being an apologist to the developer and that I represent private interest is hurtful,” Khalid said at a press conference yesterday.

The Taman Rimba Kiara project had been at the centre of a long drawn-out tussle between the authorities and Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) residents who wanted the plan scrapped.

After Pakatan Harapan came to power, Khalid renegotiated the deal with the developer and came out with a scaled-down version of the project, which saw the number of residential units halved.

“People are telling me to pay (compensation) to the developer, and that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall has a lot of money.

“But we are talking about public funds. What I am trying to do here is protect the public funds,” he said.

On Wednesday, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, C4 executive director Cynthia Gabriel and former Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan held a press conference on the matter.

Among others, Yeoh had asked why Khalid did not consult the Attorney General regarding the development as it involved compensation.

“We are in the process of submitting the Cabinet paper. The paper will eventually have to go to the AG as well and he will have to give his comments too,” Khalid said in response.

“As for Cynthia and Ambiga, I don’t know how many times you have met the residents (in TTDI), but you have not met me even once.”

He also said the government was planning to gazette parks all over the city, adding that the residents should have faith in the Cabinet on the matter.