SHAH ALAM, June 28 (Bernama) -- An attempt by the Special Select Committee On Competence, Accountability And Transparency (Selcat) to identify those who issued a directive to turn the Selangor Economic Development Corporation (PKNS) field into a commercial zone failed today.

Selcat chairman Datuk Teng Chang Kim said several other Selcat members tried to get the answer but their efforts came to nought when ex-Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) town planning director Noraini Roslan and MBPJ town planning department senior assistant director Faiwos Abdul Hamid were often seen vacillating.

"Who, in the Petaling Jaya City Council initiated the move to change the status of the PKNS field in Kelana Jaya, from recreational to commercial?

"Who took the initiative to suggest the change? Was it an officer, or was it decided by a committee in a meeting? It can't change on its own," said Teng at a Selcat public hearing session which investigated the issue of amendment to the Petaling Jaya 2 Local Plan (RTPJ2) here.

RTPJ2 created a controversy when documents referred to by the Selangor Town and Country Planning (JPBD) found the public field owned by PKNS was zoned as a recreational area, whilst the documents referred to by MBPJ indicated it was a commercial zone.

Residents and non-governmental organisations protested when they found out the field would be developed as they were worried it would reduce the green areas and cause traffic congestion.

In the meantime, Faiwos said MBPJ made an amendment on RTPJ2 after a joint meeting between the local authority and Selangor JBPD early last year.

His statement was refuted by Selangor JPBD deputy director Norasiah Bee Mohd Haniff who claimed the meeting never discussed any amendment to the plan but was more focused on printing the RTPJ2 which was gazetted.

Noraini, however, admitted several amendments which were found in the RTPJ2, were made, not in accordance with the provision of the law, but carried out based on normal practice.

She claimed that based on the practice, MBPJ would make amendments to the RTPJ2 even after it was approved by the State Executive Council and gazetted.

"However, the amendment only involve current land use and does not touch on the status of the zone in an area," she said.

The public hearing was postponed to July 5.