The plot ratio for new projects has been capped at 1:10 based on KLCP 2020, says FT minister

By SHAZNI ONG / Pic By ISMAIL CHE RUS

THE government has no plan to impose a moratorium on commercial developments despite concerns over a glut in office space in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Federal Territories (FT) Minister Khalid Abdul Samad said.

Khalid said the plot ratio for new projects has been capped at 1:10 based on the KL City Plan 2020 (KLCP 2020).

“For the time being, we will hold the cap at 10 as the maximum, except for very specific cases because we do not want to allow too many buildings (coming up),” he told reporters after attending the International Conference on Greater KL and Putrajaya organised by Kingsley Strategic Institute (KSI) in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, yesterday.

He said the density is controlled through the plot ratio. “We expect the market to be able to regulate itself and the plot ratio to help regulate the market,” Khalid said.

The ministry will also look into applications, which have been previously approved in principle, on a caseby- case basis, he added.

On Feb 11, The Edge reported that property projects, which have been granted approval in principle with a higher plot ratio than permitted, are now under the newly gazetted KLCP 2020 where they are required to seek fresh approval from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

The requirement applies to all types of developments, including commercial and residential in the capital, according to DBKL city planning department director Nurazizi Mokhtar.

Meanwhile, Khalid said the developer of Federal Hill project has been asked to submit a new development plan.

This comes after residents in the vicinity of Federal Hill, Bukit Bandaraya and Bangsar Utama are still awaiting an official announcement on the development freeze imposed by the Kuala Lumpur mayor last December.

Federal Hill, a 20ha plot of land near KL Sentral, was acquired in 2012 by SP Setia Bhd in a land swap in return for the construction of a replacement facility for the National Institute of Health (NIH) in the developer’s township in Setia Alam, Shah Alam.

Civil society group Selamatkan Kuala Lumpur questioned the land swap deal, saying there had been a lack of engagement with the local community on the matter.

DBKL imposed the freeze as an effort to resolve the dispute between the residents and the developer.

“Our problem is that there was an agreement signed between the Ministry of Health and the developer. A land swap was done. We hope the residents will understand that we cannot totally prevent the development because it is part and parcel of the agreement, which the developer has to fulfil,” Khalid explained.

Khalid added that the NIH complex in Setia Alam has been built by the developer. The ball is in the government’s court to allow the developer to exercise its rights or face legal implication.

The government, Khalid said, will ensure that the development is well planned and not disruptive to the current surrounding area.

“We cannot prevent them from developing because there is an agreement. We have to handle it in the best way possible,” he said.