PUTRAJAYA: Allowing buildings to be erected atop existing structures is a possibility that authorities are looking into to resolve the issue of scarcity of land and rising prices.

Water, Land and Na­­tural Resour­ces Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar (pic) said this was one of the means to improve cities but extensive study must be carried out before it would be allowed.

“There are already some requests for this but at present, the law doesn’t permit it.

“We are looking into finding the right mechanism for its implementation and will come up with a guideline.

“We are considering how to get this going as it is one of the ways to improve city status and to allow those who own buildings in congested areas to build on,” he said after attending the National Land Day 2018 launch by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail here yesterday.

Dr Xavier said this was an option which the Government needed to look into to resolve the issue of overcrowding in some cities besides the urban renewal process which would also be undertaken after engaging the public as well as non-governmental organisations.

On another issue, Dr Xavier said he was unaware of the quantum to takeover Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (SPLASH) as negotiations were still ongoing.

“It is completely based on a wil­ling buyer-willing seller basis. So it is between Air Selangor and SPLASH. When they are comfortable with what they have, they will come to us and we will facilitate the transfer.

“I have set Aug 10 as the deadline. I would like them to keep to the deadline,” he said in response to a report which quoted an “official source” as saying that the Govern­ment was set to fork out RM1.9bil for SPLASH.