Mohamad: We can’t change status of land under NLC

SEREMBAN: There is no provision in the National Land Code (NLC) that allows for the conversion of leasehold housing properties to freehold in Negri Sembilan, said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Pakatan Harapan, which had pledged to change such leasehold property to freehold if it comes to power, was merely seeking to win votes, he said.

Since the NLC came into force, Mohamad said state governments could no longer use their own discretion to change the status of leasehold land to freehold.

“They (Pakatan) do not know what they are talking about. They are promising everything and anything just to win,” he added.

To help affected home owners whose property might have just less than 50 years left in their 99-year lease, Mohamad said his administration had introduced a programme for them.

“The programme allows any individual whose lease is below 50 years to have it extended to 99 years,” he added.

The topic on leasehold conversion came about when state Pakatan election director Dr Mohamad Rafie Ab Malek said on Saturday that houseowners whose properties were located on leasehold land could have the status converted to freehold if the Opposition pact came to power.

Dr Mohamad Rafie said the Pakatan government would do this within a year of being elected.

However, Mohamad hoped that voters would not believe such promises made by the Opposition.

“They said they would abolish all tolls and this alone would cost them RM300bil in compensation. They also pledged to make EPF contributions for housewives, but where are they going to get the money?” he asked.

Earlier, Mohamad launched an affordable housing project for the descendants of early Felda settlers in Sendayan.

He said 242 units costing RM80,000 each would be built in Taman Bukit Sendayan. They are expected to be completed within two years.