PETALING JAYA: The Selangor government’s hands might be tied from taking action against those involved in alienating and developing institutional lands for commercial purposes because approvals were given by the former state government.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the state government would have to abide by the decision made by the former state government unless there was proof of fraud.

“We have no control over what was approved before the March 2008 general election,” he said at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

StarMetro highlighted the practice of alienating land meant for public amenities including schools, surau, fire brigades and community halls for commercial use in Petaling Jaya on Monday.

At least 12 plots of land surrendered to the state government 15 years ago for public amenities are now the sites of commercial centres. One of the plots is where the Mutiara Damansara commercial zone is now located. The 160ha land was meant for a cemetery and air force base.

“I would say that approvals prior to 2008 may not have gone through the due process of gazetting the land,” Khalid said, adding that any land surrendered to the state for public purposes would be gazetted under the present state government.

Petaling Jaya City Council secretary Puasa Md Taib said matters concerning land conversion came under the purview of the state government.

Asked to comment on the issue, former state exco member Datuk Mokhtar Ahmad Dahlan, who was the former Housing, Building Management and Squatters Committee chairman, said he had to refer to previous documents on the matter.

“These cases are at least three years old. I cannot give answers off hand,” he said.

Former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo could not be reached for comment.