People power versus millions of compensation? Not an easy answer.

Remember the “fight” for a football field in Kuala Lumpur? Specifically in Bandar Tun Razak? In brief, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) sold a piece of land to a developer to build high-rise units; four blocks, two of which are for low-cost flats in 2017. The 40-storey building on the 2.09ha land will have 1,814 units and the population density will increase from 60 to 1,400 per 0.4ha. Due to this transaction, The Save Jalan Jujur Football Field committee then lodged a report with Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Jalan Cochrane against DBKL over the sale of the land reserved for a football field. The 2.09ha land in Jalan Jujur was a football field used for various recreational activities by residents. (This explains why the residents would be against it.) Its secretary Mohamad Saiful Mansur said the land was gazetted on Nov 24, 2005, as reserved land for public use and the status was changed on Dec 22 last year. He added that an application for the project was then submitted to DBKL on May 3 2017 and it was approved with condition on Oct 18 the same year. At the point of approval, the land was still reserved land and not handed over to DBKL. (Okay, I think this was one reason why the committee lodged a report with the MACC).

This is what the KL mayor Tan Sri Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz’s reply. “The disputed high-rise residential project would proceed as scheduled.”  The reason is because, “We cannot afford to pay them (developer).” He added that it was not feasible to stop the project as construction was at an advanced stage. Compensation would be in the millions. However, there’s a promise for a new football field. Amin Nordin said he would get the developer to bear the cost to build a new football field near Bandar Tun Razak. He said, “We have identified a piece of land not too far away, and we will explain the matter to the residents.” (I think it’s best to get the agreement from the developer first before the promise. Plus, the complain lodged with MACC and the promise of a new football field is a separate matter too. Perhaps we wait for MACC’s announcement after their investigation. If everything followed the procedure, then anew football field may be the only compromise possible) Do look at the image for the construction. The article in TheStar for reference. 
This has happened. We can only let it run its course. Moving forward, what should happen is that the ‘new’ DBKL must be professional and please quickly gazette the 2020 Kuala Lumpur Draft Plan. Once that is gazetted, then following it would mean a vibrant and yet green Kuala Lumpur; something that most KLites would like, including myself. If everything is still done haphazardly or following some instructions from the top (whoever these people may be) or even “it was due to previous agreements,” then we are going to go back to square one. One more thing that should also happen is that KLites should get to elect their favourite mayor. This would be awesome because then many really experienced candidates can also run for it. Of course, even former politicians can run for it because there are certainly good ones too. After moving to KL for the past 5 years, I think I have grown to not just accept but to look forward to its vibrancy to continue. Happy following.
Listen also to this awesome KL song of yesterday.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEl9T5PQUqg
written on 12 July 2018
Next suggested article:  Positives. Indirectly showing potential for Kuala Lumpur