‘Secrets land deals costing Sarawak billions’
There would be no need to revoke welfare aid to Sarawakians if the state administration practiced an open-tender policy on land sales, claims DAP.
(Free Malaysia Today) – The secretive sale of state land at grossly low prices to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s family and friends has cost the state billions of ringgit in losses, claimed opposition DAP.
“If we total all the losses from the sales of state land, we could have lost several billion ringgits,” said state DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen.
He cited as an example a 269.9 acre plot of land at BDC which was directly alienated to Monarda Sdn Bhd, a company owned by Taib’s sons and other family members.
“It was sold at RM78.64 million at RM291, 000 per acre instead of RM500 million at RM1.5 million to RM2 million per acre. So here we lost about RM400 million.
“The 32- acre state land at Batu Lintang was alienated to Naim Cendera at RM900 million. It could have cost much more. All these lands are paid in kind.
“If we have adopted the open tender system just like the Penang state government is doing we could have saved several billions ringgits.
“This money could have been used to upgrade the livelihood of the people of the rural areas. We can build more roads, provide electricity and treated water and can give more financial assistance.
“And there is no need to withdraw welfare allowances to OKU (handicapped persons),” he said, referring to the uproar caused by Assistant Minister for Agriculture (Research and Marketing) Mong Dagang who revoked the welfare aid to Frusis Lebi, a disabled farmer because of his open support for the opposition.
