This is what the regulations have to say:
“ Kelulusan kebenaran merancang diperlukan bagi setiap pembangunan yang ingin dijalankan. Ianya berperanan bagi Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan untuk mengawal perancangan.
"Kelulusan Kebenaran Merancang akan membenarkan/membolehkan sesuatu aktiviti di atas tanah itu dapat dilakukan merangkumi kerja-kerja bangunan, kejuruteraan, perlombongan atau penukaran jenis kegunaan tanah atau bangunan atau pecah sempadan tanah dan penyatuan tanah. ”
We doubt Senator A Kohilan Pillay understands what ‘kebenaran merancang’ means. We suggest that Mr Kohilan study the subject before giving a PC about the Batu Caves condominium controversy.
A kebenaran merancang (development order) gives full details of the project that is going to be implemented.
I am pretty sure he has the minutes of meetings that he had attended, where these matters had been tabled back in 2007.
The land was allowed to be converted to commercial use back a long time ago before even 2000, where Dolomite was operating a quarry. The whole layout plan for the site - the shops and the condominium - was planned back in 2005/06 approved during BN's time.
The ‘kebenaran merancang' (KM) was given during BN's time in 2007. And to make matters worse Jabatan Alam Sekitar (Environment Department) outright rejected this project in 2007, stating the need setback and that the area is prone to landslides despite that the KM was issued.
What was Kohilan doing with the other three MIC councillors (back then), why didn’t they protest? Don’t blame the current councillors or the state government. The Pakatan councillors were appointed in July 2008, whereas the pelan bangunan (building plan) was approved on May 26, 2008. This is the period the existing BN councillors were still running the show. Why were they in such a hurry to push through the project?
Kohilan saying that the KM was issued without stating the height of the building is an utter lie. The building plan is a mandatory requirement in order to secure the KM. Kohilan Pillay admitted that the planning permit was approved during his time, so why he is denying this fact now?
We will prove Kohilan Pillai is wrong; would he resign from his deputy ministership? It is not necessary for him to protect the Batu Caves temple chairperson, if he had notified the temple committee about the proposed building at the time, then say so to the public.
If the temple does not have anything to hide, then they should have written to the council. We are ever ready to help. Why must he bring politics and MIC leaders into the matter? Does the temple chairperson Nadarajah think MIC leaders or political means are a better way to solve the matter?
Without a doubt, the then councillors and the developer would expect that the new Pakatan state government would have rejected the project (if it was brought to their attention for approval); is this why they were in such a hurry to push through the project in March 2008?
GUNARAJ G is a Majlis Perbandaran Selayang councillor.
