Council fails to hand over keys to MCA members

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/8/14/nation/9299660&sec=nation (By OH ING YEEN, 14/8/2011)
Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) officers failed to return the keys to a building involved in a property tussle despite a letter by MCA members asking them to do so by noon yesterday. Serdang MCA chairman Datuk Liew Yuen Keong, deputy chairman Datuk Hoh Hee Lee and MCA members waited for about 45 minutes before giving their statement to the press. Liew claimed that MPKj’s failure to hand over the keys was tantamount to contempt of court. “It shows the council is not sincere in returning the keys to us despite the court’s decision. This (seizure of the building) is politically motivated,” he said, alleging that the council had been used as a “tool for political gains”.
On Friday, the Shah Alam High Court had allowed an injunction applied by MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha to stop the council from locking or entering the building, located at Jalan Indah 1/1, Taman Indah, Batu 11, Cheras. The injunction, which further sought for the council to return seven sets of new keys to the building as well as the items inside that were seized, was allowed pending full hearing of the trial. In a subsequent letter from MCA’s lawyers to MPKj, it was stated that the council was to deliver the keys at noon yesterday.
Batu 11 MCA branch chairman Lim Teong Hui said MCA would continue to allow the community to use its premises for activities. “The electricity and water bills will be paid by MCA and we will allow the community to use it free of charge. They only need to pay for the classes they attend,” he said. Liew said MCA lawyers later contacted those representing the council, who promised “to deal with the matter in a few days’ time.”
When contacted, Lim Lip Eng, the lawyer representing MPKj, said the date and time to return the keys and seized items were not stated in the injunction. “I received the letter on Friday,” he said. “However, in the injunction, it is only stated that the council has to return the items within the time set by the court. “We will wait for the court’s decision and for the MCA lawyers to inform us of the time and date.
“We will abide by the law,” he said.
Council corporate communications head Shariman Mohd Nor said he would check with his officers on the matter.