The Malaysian Insight

DEWAN Rakyat has passed the Federal Territories Ministry’s budget for 2021 despite unanswered questions over the sale of government land at 50% below market price.

“How did the cabinet approve the sale of Lot PT15358? The sale of this lot was done and registered on June 23 after Pakatan Harapan (government) was dropped by Perikatan Nasional,” said Teresa Kok (Seputeh-PH) during the debate for the ministry’s budget today.

She asked how the transaction was finalised within three months when it usually takes as many months for a land survey to be completed.

“The transaction happened during the movement-control order period and was done so quickly,” said Kok.

She also questioned the price of the sale.

“In 2002, the 42-acre (17ha) lot of land was bought by the government for RM14 million, which is RM161 per square foot, so it is strange that 18 years later, this land is sold for RM80 per square foot.”

Kok asked for an explanation on the special discount given to a private company.

Kunci Muhibah company

“And I know the current land lot is RM600 per square foot, so why is DBKL willing to sell this commercial land below the market price, causing the government to lose RM95.8 million?”

She said that the land was located at the intersection of Old Klang Road and Jalan Kuchai Lama.

“In 2002, the land lot was taken over by the public works department for the purpose of widening the Old Klang Road and building a bridge at the site. But this project was not carried out and the government even leased the site to a company that ran a hawker center.

“In March 2017, JKPTG (Department of Director-General of Lands and Mines) leased the land for three years to the former owner of the land lot but this lease was canceled in November of the same year and the ownership of the land was transferred from JKPTG to DBKL.”

She also questioned why the government was dealing with a controversial company and silencing protests made by hawkers.

“After the land was transferred from JKPTG to DBKL, and then sold to Kunci Muhibah, which is a subsidiary of Aset Kayamas that has been investigated by the MACC and the government for many cases of suspicious land sales under BN (Barisan Nasional) rule.”

Kok added that the sale of lands that had been stopped by PH has now resumed under PN.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamid (Bagan Datok-BN) asked the ministry to investigate the case.

“Does YB (Annuar Musa) agree that the allegation should be investigated and all documents be checked so that no negative public perception should arise? Not only in terms of politics but also in terms of rationalisation.”

He also asked the minister, who is also from his party, not to prolong the case any further.

Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa responded that no asset sales have taken place during his tenure as minister, which started in March this year.

“I have checked many times, I have never made any decision to sell any assets so far.

“Referring to the permit raised, the initial information I received today was that the sales process took place during the PH government.

“I will check the matter and give a more accurate answer. This is based on preliminary information but we need to investigate further because the approvals took place at the end of 2019.”

This roused Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad – the federal territories minister under the PH government – to challenge Annuar on his accusations.

“Don’t use the immunity of the parliament to throw such accusations.”

The Federal Territories Ministry budget was approved by 110-7, with 31 abstentions and 72 absentees.

Prior to the vote, the opposition had walked out after Dewan Rakyat allowed three MPs – Health Minister Dr Adham Baba (Tenggara-BN), Human Resource Minister M. Saravanan (Tapah-BN) and P. Prabakaran (Batu-PH) – to enter Parliament despite being served home surveillance orders. – December 14, 2020.