‘Govt can take back land from showroom dealer’

Lease for the site to sell used imported cars in KL given under National Land Code, says PM’s aide

According to Azman Abidin, the political secretary of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the 21-year lease granted for the construction of a car showroom on a green lung site in Jalan Kuching can be revoked if deemed necessary by the government. He emphasized that the cancellation can occur at any time as long as there is a valid reason and prior notice is given to the owner. However, he acknowledged that the owner had invested millions of ringgit into building the showroom and offices on the land.

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Azman stated, “He had followed procedure, applied for permission and got it, but (he) knows that there cannot be a permanent (structure), so we can cancel anytime. In the future, if the government wants to turn the land into a public park or widen the road, we can take it back, it is not set in stone. The decision to do so will have to be brought up to the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Land Exco (JKTWPKL).” His comments were made in response to a StarMetro report published on July 17 with the headline “Car showroom built on former green space.”

JKTWPKL approved the lease application on November 13, 2020, allowing the land to be used as a showroom for displaying used imported cars until January 27, 2042. The dealership pays an annual premium of RM24,449 for the land, with the rate determined by the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur Land and Mines Office (PTGWP).

While Azman admitted that the annual premium may seem low, he explained that it was calculated based on the quit rent rates of the land. Lot 65419, measuring 0.6793ha, was designated as a green area on September 3, 2009, and later incorporated into the gazetted Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020. Situated across Laman Hijau and adjoining the Kepong and Batu parliamentary constituencies, the land was previously occupied by illegal businesses before PTGWP issued eviction notices to the violators.

Azman highlighted that the lease of reserved land is permitted under the provisions of the National Land Code 1965. Additionally, he suggested that the decision to lease the land may have been motivated by efforts to deter further illegal encroachments.