Dipetik dari The Unspinners http://theunspinners.blogspot.com/
When the controversy concerning the proposed Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus in Serendah first surfaced, many were struggling to put it in the proper context.
The April 25 Hulu Selangor by-election will provide the issue with a focal point as the site is within the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency.
The controversy revolves around a sum of RM5.5 million in quit rent owed by Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan (YBK) for the 526ha site earmarked for the campus. The land was alienated to the foundation in 1995.
The campus project has since been put on hold after the Pakatan Rakyat state government refused to accept YBK's offer to settle the outstanding amount.
The state government said YBK had not paid quit rent for 13 years.
YBK has since filed a suit questioning the state government's right to reject the payment when YBK had fulfilled the requirements for the campus project to be approved by the state planning committee.
There has been an outcry from several non-governmental organisations, including the Hulu Selangor Youth Council, which wanted the state government to set aside its partisan interests and focus on developing Hulu Selangor to benefit the people.
Yesterday, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said in Shah Alam that the YBK issue would not damage Pakatan's chances of winning as the people of Hulu Selangor "were astute and could discern which candidate they wanted".
"If YBK is an issue, we will be delighted to discuss it with the people of Hulu Selangor. Land is scarce and helping the poor with regard to this issue must be done properly."
Khalid said this after addressing the monthly gathering organised by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) here.
Hulu Selangor Umno Youth chief Mahmud Karim said the Serendah land issue would crop up during the by-election.
"This is about the state government denying the people of Hulu Selangor an opportunity to benefit from development."
The by-election follows the death of the first non-Barisan Nasional member of parliament for Hulu Selangor, Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad, on March 25.
The contest is expected to attract a few independent candidates while the BN candidate will be named on April 15, two days before nomination day.
Yesterday, Parti Keadilan Rakyat revealed that it was screening "a lot of CVs (curriculum vitae)" of potential candidates.
PKR elections director Fuziah Salleh said the party would shortlist candidates after its bureau meeting tomorrow.
"We have many candidates' CVs to go through but we are not in a hurry. We will go through the due process," Fuziah, who is MP for Kuantan, said at the Parliament lobby.
Khalid refused to comment on rumours that former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim may be fielded by PKR.
"I have learned a lesson in politics that rumours are always strong, whether they are true or not. You won't get any hint from me.
"I think we shall give BN a credible candidate and this augurs well for the people of Hulu Selangor because they will have a choice and that is what we want."
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