‘MACC SHOULD PROBE IJOK LAND DEAL’
Irmohizam says MB’s reply to queries on issue was dubious
THE Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) should probe into the controversial RM1.18 billion land deal in Ijok, Kuala Selangor lawmaker Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim said.
He said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s recent reply to queries on the issue over the controversial settlement reached between the state government and housing developers Mujur Zaman and LBCN Development, that was earlier found to have breached terms and conditions of the National Land Code, was dubious .
In November last year, several non-governmental organisations had lodged reports with MACC to investigate the Selangor government over the deal.
“A probe by MACC should be carried out, and if needed, freeze the assets (related to the Ijok deal) to deter anything which could affect the investigation.
“The state government and menteri besar should be more ‘sensitive’ in managing assets that involve the people’s interests. What had happened did not reflect the state government’s concerns over the people’s wellbeing, especially among settlers and farmers,” Irmohizam said yesterday.
He was commenting on statements made by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan and former Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim on an apparent bailing-out of the developers by the state government.
The 880ha plot of land was seized by Khalid’s former administration after both developers were reported to have not met certain conditions which included failing to pay the land premium; failing to change the land’s status from agricultural to residential land; and failing to pay the premium to change the land status.
Both developers sued the Selangor government at the High Court to acquire their respective lands. On Oct 22, 2013, Khalid won the case.
“The people are increasingly suspicious when the Selangor government returned the land that was seized from the developers. The land was later sold to a public company despite the High Court and Appeal Court’s decision, which sided with the state government (Khalid’s administration),” Irmohizam said.
In 1998, settlers had agreed to allow several companies, including Mujur Zaman and LBCN Development, to develop the land including for housing. The companies agreed to pay them compensation.
However a decade later, the settlers were still left waiting for their compensation and houses.
When the opposition pact took over Selangor after the 2008 general election, Khalid’s administration seized the land by utilising the National Land Code.
He said he was informed of a compensation for each settler which was later made after the settlement, and that it was unfair, since the property’s value was exceedingly higher.
“Some of the locals there had complained about the compensation, and worry over environmental effects following unscrupulous development, which can lead to flash floods. There are those with concerns over their livelihood, especially among farmers and settlers.”
He said Khalid’s statement on the issue should be viewed seriously.