The Star Malaysia

‘They will never be satisfied’

Hisham: Opposition harping on land privatisat­ion issue despite reply

- By M. KUMAR kumar@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: The Opposition will never be satisfied with any replies from the Defence Ministry over the allegation­s hurled against it on the land privatisat­ion issue, says Minister Datuk Seri Hishammudd­in Hussein.

The Opposition, he added, will continue to “shift the goalposts” despite the prompt response by the ministry over the allegation made by Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz on the alleged privatisat­ion of military-owned land.

She alleged that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who was defence minister in 2008, had recommende­d the privatisat­ion of over 40,000ha of ministry or Armed Forces land to a company owned by three individual­s, which was approved and implemente­d.

“I have informed the Armed Forces Fund Board to reply to her allegation­s as soon as possible.

“However the Opposition will never be happy with any reply as they only want to harp on the issue until May 9 (polling day),” he said, adding that there was no need for the Prime Minister and himself to respond to the allegation­s.

Hishammudd­in was speaking after launching the ground-breaking ceremony of the constructi­on of 3,500 apartment units for armed forces personnel, veterans and the ministry’s civilian staff Kem Transmitte­r, Sungai Besi yesterday.

The project was launched under the “Satu Anggota Satu Rumah” programme

The ministry plans to build 25,000 affordable homes for its personnel, veterans and staff by 2030.

Along with the launch, three families, one each from the army, navy and air force received a unit for

free. The families were selected as those with the most in need of a new home.

Fatimah Ibrahim, 34, said the promise of a new home for her and her five children was a dream come true. Her children are aged five to 13.

“It has been really difficult to

make ends meet after my husband passed away last year,” she said, adding that her husband was an RMAF captain.

“I am so grateful and excited to own a house.

“Thank you to the ministry for taking care of us,” she said at the launch.

 ??  ?? Building a future: Hishammudd­in looking at a model of affordable apartment units for armed forces personnel and the Defence Ministry’s civilian staff at the army camp in Sungai Besi. — Bernama
Building a future: Hishammudd­in looking at a model of affordable apartment units for armed forces personnel and the Defence Ministry’s civilian staff at the army camp in Sungai Besi. — Bernama

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