RM2bil worth of projects in KL stalled

11/06/2004 The Star

A TOTAL of 38 development projects in Kuala Lumpur costing RM2bil are currently at a standstill.

Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad revealed the figures during a press conference on abandoned projects in the city at his office in Putrajaya.

He had earlier chaired briefings on abandoned projects and the research plans to integrate public transport and land use in the Klang Valley.

Representatives from various government agencies and government-appointed consultancies were also present to offer their viewpoints and help remedy the situation.

“Of the 38 projects, nine will be reactivated at different levels and the development orders will change from one developer to another.

“There is also a possibility that five more projects will be redeveloped,” said Mohd Isa.

He also said the projects involved apartments, offices, hotels and malls.

Nineteen projects, Mohd Isa said, would not be revived, pending further discussions with government agencies and consultants.

“Certain projects will be re-evaluated based on the recommendations made.

“For example, buildings originally meant to offer office space will be converted into apartments,” he added.

When asked whether the Government would take the errant developers to task, Mohd Isa replied that blacklisting the developers would not work as they could still carry out their operations.

“One developer awarded a project to build apartments in Bangsar had disappeared without a trace.

“The project is now under Official Assignee (OA),” he said.

He added that the Government was more concerned with reviving and speeding up projects for completion within a certain timeframe instead of chasing after errant developers.