THE Selangor state government may consider rezoning land to allow industries to continue operations and provide economic opportunities.

Local Government, New Village Development and Legalising of Illegal Factories Committee chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah said this was to help legalise some factories which had failed to obtain licences.

He said the factories were manufacturing plants providing job opportunities to nearby residents but were mostly built on agricultural land.

“It is not advisable to completely get rid of such illegal factories, especially since they help boost the economy. Each case will be reviewed periodically,” he said, adding that the rezoning would be done after careful study.

He said that at present, several local authorities were going all out to clear illegal factories operating on river reserve land, especially since the Sungai Semenyih contamination last year.

He said the Kajang Municipal Council, Selayang Municipal Council and Hulu Selangor District Council were identifying the illegal factories.

“Illegal factories and buildings located on private land will be issued compound notices and we will get a court order to tear it down,” he added.

The programme to legalise unlicensed factories was launched in July 2006 as 2,998 factories were found built on 2,523 agricultural plots.

Out of the figure, applications were received for 1,346 lots to change the land status to industrial but only 1,223 were approved.

“The state has obtained RM186mil in premiums from the approved land conversions so far,” Ean Yong added.

Meanwhile, the state assembly was told that only 665 Rumah Selangorku units had been completed out of the 24 approved housing projects.

The completed units are located in two projects in the jurisdiction of the Shah Alam City Council and Hulu Selangor District Council, respectively.

Seri Andalas assemblyman Dr Xavier Jayakumar Arulanandam questioned the state’s plans to expedite the building of these units.

Housing Committee chairman Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad replied that developers who failed to deliver within three years would have their other projects halted.

“The sale and purchase agreements state that developers have 36 months to complete a Rumah Selangorku housing project from the time the agreement is signed.

“If they do not deliver on time, we will stop them from developing other housing projects even if it has been approved,” he said.

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