KLANG: Thirty days and counting. Port Klang state assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Mat Deros has until Nov 15 to submit a new  building plan for "Istana Zakaria", his luxury mansion in Kampung Idaman, Pandamaran, Port Klang.

Klang Municipal Council president Abdul Bakir Zin said a reminder had been sent to him on the matter.

"He must send it to us in 30 days. We will then consider whether to approve the project or not," he said yesterday.

Abdul Bakir said a joint report prepared by the council and the Land Office on the controversial mansion on 43,000 sq
ft was submitted to the state government on Monday.

He said approval of the plan was not automatic.

Zakaria could not be contacted for comment.

His son, Zainuri, said his father was ill, adding that a Press conference would be held on Thursday after the
swearing-in ceremony for municipal councillors.

Zakaria made headlines after ignoring building regulations and failing to submit building plans for the house built on
land alienated to his wife, Datin Zizah Ngah.

A stop-work order was issued last Wednesday to Zakaria, who faces a fine of just RM5,000 for failure to submit the
plans.

The land originally comprised eight small lots which were later consolidated into one big lot. It was sold to Zizah
for a song — just RM180,000 — paid to the state government.

The current market value of the 43,000 sq ft property is about RM1.3 million based on the lower end of the going rate
for land in the area of between RM30 and RM40 per sq ft.

A proposal to build the house was first submitted by an architect on Dec 23, 2002.

A plan was submitted to the council for approval by the Kuala Lumpur-based firm on Dec 14, 2004, but it could not be
processed as fees were not paid.

A final reminder was sent to the firm and Zakaria on Feb 24 this year.

The firm pulled out of the project in June.

The council issued a letter on June 12 to Zakaria directing him to appoint a new architect.

A reminder was sent on Aug 24, giving him 14 days to do so but nothing had been submitted until today.

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