DBKL prioritises orders from minister, witness says in Ku Nan graft trial

KUALA LUMPUR: The approval of any applications and appeals made by a developer to Kuala Lumpur City Hall would be decided based on the federal territories minister’s instructions, the High Court was told.

Former City Hall enforcement director Ab Salim Mansor said the minister’s instructions would be prioritised over his deputy, the mayor and senior City Hall officers.

Testifying in the bribery trial of former federal territories minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Salim said each letter from a developer would be reviewed and discussed with the mayor before any decision on what the enforcement department would do next is taken.

During examination in chief, when asked by deputy public prosecutor Haderiah Siri about the procedure used by City Hall in dealing with instructions from the minister, Salim said it was a priority as approvals were given and offers made by the minister.

Earlier, Salim had, in his witness statement, said Tengku Adnan had approved an offer for the sale of two land lots to developer Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd.

The 61-year-old, who was at the time City Hall’s s Economic Planning and Development Department director, said the approval was reflected in a letter dated May 27, 2015.

Former City Hall enforcement director Ab Salim Mansor said the minister’s instructions would be prioritised over his deputy, the mayor and senior City Hall officers. - NSTP/SUPIAN AHMAD

Salim also confirmed that Aset Kayamas intended to build a 41-floor low-cost apartment with 427 units and an eight-storey car park and facilities in the first phase.

He said the second phase was for a 41-storey apartment with 632 units while the third phase was for a hostel for the City Hall training centre.

Tengku Adnan was charged with accepting RM2 million from Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong via a cheque belonging to Aset Kayamas which was deposited into a bank account belonging to Tadmansori Holding Sdn Bhd, a company in which the accused held interest.

He was alleged to have committed the offence in his capacity as a public servant, which is the federal territories minister at that time, at CIMB Bank Bhd, Pusat Bandar Damansara branch, level 1, Lot A4, Block A, Pusat Bandar Damansara, on June 14, 2016.

Aset Kayamas was established by Chai in 2011 with a primary focus to deliver comfortable homes that are founded in quality and affordability.

Its expanding portfolio features various luxury residential development projects such as Park Hill in Bukit Jalil, The Henge in Kepong and The Holmes in Bandar Tun Razak.

It has also worked on several affordable housing projects across the Klang Valley in collaboration with the government under the Perumahan Penjawat Awam 1Malaysia (PPA1M) and Rumah Mampu Milik Wilayah Persekutuan (RUMAWIP) schemes.

The hearing before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues on Tuesday.