Yet another ‘Zakaria scandal’ brewing
Malaysiakini.com
Nov 21, 2006
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng

Port Klang state assemblyperson Zakaria Md Deros, who recently courted controversy with his 17-room Kampung Idaman bungalow, has now been accused of corruption.

An opposition leader claimed that the former Klang municipal councillor approved 11 acres of state government land to be developed by a company owned by two of his sons.

The multi-million ringgit project involves the building of 222 shoplots and 642 apartments.

The controversial politician has apparently approved the state land in his capacity as chairperson of the state-owned Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS) land committee.

DAP Sungai Pinang state assemblyperson Teng Chang Khim showed reporters at a press conference today documents containing details of the project.

The project proposal was presented at last year’s Nov 28 meeting of the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) planning and development committee. The project was approved by council in January this year.

According to the proposal, PKNS applied to the council to carry out a development project on state-owned land in Pandaraman Jaya. The developer listed on the document was Subur Megah Sdn Bhd.

Teng said on checking with the Companies Commission of Malaysia, Subur Megah’s major shareholders are Zakaria’s sons, Zaidi Zainal and Zainuri Zainal.

Zainuri is also an incoming Klang councillor, who will be sworn in later this week.

Explanation required

In view of this, Teng said Zakaria must explain if he had abused his position as PKNS' land committee chairperson to ensure that his sons’ company got the project.

The DAP leader also questioned why it was PKNS, and not Subur Megah, which had sought approval for the project from MPK.
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“Is this to create the impression that the project involves public interest?” he asked.

However, Teng (right) said MPK did not approve the project at its Nov 28 meeting because the submitted plan also listed the use of a piece of reserve land to construct a multi-storey parking lot.

Apart from this, he said the project also involved four-storey buildings which violates MPK’s three-storey stipulation for development projects in that area.

According to Teng, the plan was eventually approved this January with the condition that the reserve land will not be touched and the buildings adhere to the three-storey rule.

‘Build first, pay later’

However, when malaysiakini visited the project’s sales office in Klang, it was discovered that the project included four, and even, five-storey buildings.

The sales executive said that 70 percent of the shoplots and apartments had been sold since it was opened to the public in July.

A visit to the project site revealed that construction works have yet to commence (left).

Teng said he believed that Zakaria is resorting to the “same old tactic of build first and pay fines later.”

Zakaria has recently been embroiled in a scandal where he built his palatial home without first obtaining approval from MPK, in which he was a member.

Earlier this month, the Umno politician’s name made headlines again when he was discovered to have granted seven acres of land to the Selangor Badminton Association - an organisation he himself heads - at RM20 million below the market value.

Following severe criticism from various quarters, Zakaria decided to withdraw from the list of candidates to be MPK councillors for the coming term.
    
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