Zakaria tearful and defiant
Llew-Ann Phang
KLANG (The Sun, Oct 31, 2006): Port Klang assemblyman and Klang Umno division chief Datuk Zainal @ Zakaria Md Deros, in a tearful statement, admitted he made a mistake in designing his house in a "probably inappropriate" location. However, he remains defiant to the order to resign as a Klang municipal councillor.
In a press conference in his current residence in Kampung Idaman today, Zakaria broke his silence for the first time since the issue of his mansion in the same low-cost residential area was exposed by theSun about three weeks ago. Some 30 journalists turned up at the press conference.
He read a 12-page statement but refused to take questions from the press, including on whether he would resign from his position as a councillor as directed by Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.
Zakaria apologised to the media for not being able to answer questions as he did not want to have legal implications raised against him.
He was flanked by two of his sons, including councillor Zainuri, who opened the press conference expressing his hope that the statement would clarify the issue and put a stop to negative speculations against his father and family.
Zakaria said in order to maintain his pride and authority as the Klang Umno division chief and Port Klang assemblyman, he was apologising for the delay in making the clarification.
He said it was his and his wife’s intention to build and leave the house behind as a legacy for their children, grandchildren and the local community.
He tried to control his emotions throughout the session but broke down a few times when he was talking about his family.
"I had not the slightest intention to show off and be pompous, what more to build a house described as ‘Istana Datuk Zakaria’ as published in the media," he said.
Zakaria said he has 11 children, seven sons- and daughters-in-law and 11 grandchildren living with him and noted that the family could continue to grow.
He said it was therefore only "reasonable" for him to build a suitable house to accommodate the large family.
He also pointed out that the house being built was not a four-storey structure but two-and-a-half storeys.
He said the house, being built on Lot PT9 in Kampung Idaman, will also alleviate parking problems caused in the neighbourhood when visitors frequented his current home from morning till night.
"The [new] house will also have facilities for the public, including a small surau for religious ceremonies, a tuition centre and a community activity centre," he said.
Zakaria said he and his family have been residing in Kampung Idaman for the past 30 years. He also described himself as a "small political leader" for the past 40 years.
"My wife Zizah Ngah urged that I look for a piece of land around Kampung Idaman or close by to build a comfortable house so we can always be close to the people who have helped us thus far.
"We found that Lot PT9 was suitable for the house and in 2002, a plot of land with temporary occupancy licence (TOL) was registered to Zizah.
"In 2004, the permanent grant was registered to my wife," he said.
He apologised if the family’s good intention was taken the wrong way.
Zakaria also said he wondered if his services and contributions thus far would be jeopardised because of this unexpected controversy.
He thanked those who pointed him in the right way, including the media. However, he added that he did not want his unintentional mistake be exploited by the Opposition.
"As a politician, I accept the fact that I cannot make everybody happy and as a human being I have weaknesses and need to improve on them from time to time," he said.
When word of the controversy broke out, he said, he was in the Holy Land (Mecca) as it was his practice to carry out umrah every Ramadan month.
"I was told by my wife that the media had published this controversy but I was in the opinion that the problem would end in a short time, but there was a lapse in my judgment as Tuanku Sultan Selangor was equally concerned with this problem," he said.
On his audience with the Sultan, he said the doctor had advised him to get treatment at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Klang, and he was therefore only able to meet the Sultan last Sunday (Oct 29, 2006). He said he appreciated the Sultan’s concern.
Zakaria also said he had met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at 10.15am on Sunday at TUDM airport in Subang before the latter left for China.
"He advised me to be patient and look for a solution to the problem, especially the best way in stopping the negative coverage by the media," he said.
Last Saturday (Oct 8, 2006), Zakaria had a 20-minute audience with Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at Istana Bukit Kayangan in Shah Alam, during which he provided the sultan with his explanation on accusations in the media and complaints from the rakyat about his alleged arrogance and abuse of power.
He was supposed to have met the Sultan last Monday (Oct 23, 2006) but said he could not make it because of an illness.
Zakaria found himself in the spotlight following news reports in early October which revealed that the mansion among low-cost houses in Kampung Idaman - a stone’s throw from his illegal eatery on Jalan Banting, DZ Satay House - was being built without planning approval.
He was later fined RM24,000 instead of prosecution under the Town and Country Planning Act, which provides a maximum penalty of RM500,000 and a jail sentence.
Zakaria also paid up 12 years of assessment arrears for his existing home and two Umno offices totalling RM46,118.60 on Oct 19, 2006, after being warned by Klang Municipal Council (MPK) president Abdul Bakir Zin that he should settle the debt or face property seizure.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo, who said the swearing-in ceremony for new Klang councillors was postponed due to the public outcry, advised Zakaria to resign as a Klang municipal councillor by Nov 8, 2006, failing which the state exco would sack him.
Yesterday, Abdul Bakir told theSun the council will be submitting a full-length, detailed report on DZ Satay House to Mohd Khir soon so that further action can be taken.
An additional report on other issues, including the failure to pay assessment by several councillors will also be submitted to Mohd Khir.
Yesterday, the Klang Umno division held an emergency meeting and said it fully backed its chief. It also urged Mohd Khir to retain Zakaria as a councillor, and said the entire brouhaha was the work of the Opposition to discredit Zakaria.
His clarification:
Zakaria, while it was the opinion of the media and the public that he did not respect the law, pointed out that he had taken the following steps pertaining to the house:
- Dec 23, 2002 - The consultant architect submitted a layout plan to obtain approval from the MPK for the construction of a bungalow;
- Feb 22, 2003 - MPK sent an approval letter with conditions;
- Dec 14, 2003 - The architect made an application with a submission of the building plans for approval from the MPK Building Department. MPK could not process the application because the plan payments were not made;
- Feb 24, 2006 - MPK sent a technical compliance reminder letter to the architect and sent Zakaria a copy;
- March 21, 2006 - MPK informed that the approval was postponed until the architect complied with the technical requirements;
Zakaria said one of the technical mistakes in the plan was his name being displayed in the plan when the owner of the land was Zizah. Therefore, the entire building plan had to be transferred to Zizah Ngah’s name; and
- April 6, 2006 - The architect withdrew from the project and Zakaria said he appointed a new architect to amend the building plans according to the technical requirements stated by MPK. Zakaria said the new architect will submit the changes in the first week of November.
"I hope with this extensive explanation, I will no longer be looked upon as a wakil rakyat and a councillor who knowingly dodged the laws and regulations set by the local authority," he said.
The press conference was held in the living room, which according to Zainuri, was also where Zakaria and his 80-year-old mother-in-law Jamilah Zakaria slept nightly.
