If consent was not given for these transfers, DBKL can terminate the purchase of the land deal, according to Kepong MP

By LYDIA NATHAN / Pic By BLOOMBERG

Ten out of 64 plots of land involved in RM4.28 billion controversial deals do not have a land transfer title, said Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng.

Lim said since there is no title transfer, these parcels are still registered to and owned by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

“After speaking to the mayor, we have concluded that if consent was not given for these transfers, DBKL can terminate the purchase of the land deal,” Lim told reporters after having an official meeting with Mayor Tan Sri Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz (picture) in Kuala Lumpur (KL).

The meeting was held together with 10 other newly elected KL MPs yesterday.

Lim also said all 11 MPs have collectively urged the chief secretary to the government to intervene in land transactions in the Federal Territory.

The Malaysian Reserve reported Mhd Amin Nordin confirming that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has commenced investigations into the land deals, which were allegedly underpriced and sold to friendly parties of the previous government.

“Since then, the National Audit Department has also come out with a report detailing the matter. We believe the transactions adhere to the proper regulations and procedures,” Mhd Amin Nordin said.

The mayor confirmed that the probe by the anti-graft agency started about three months ago and DBKL has cooperated fully with the authority.

The transactions, believed to have happened between 2013 and 2018, involved 64 plots or 171.7ha, an area that could fit 63,450 cars. Land is scarce in KL and its value is skyrocketing.

Meanwhile, Lim also revealed that MACC has been making daily rounds to DBKL offices to probe the matter.

Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai told reporters that the investigations into the land deals include the sale of land for the construction of the Umno national headquarters building which is adjacent to the Putra World Trade Centre building.

He alleged that 31 acres (12.5ha) of land in Cheras have been sold in this deal.

“We want this land back,” Tan said.

Some other issues were also raised during the meeting, including pothole issues in KL.

“I’ve asked them not to wait for complaints, but to do their own patrols. I also would like to see the land development in Segambut monitored more closely. The flash floods happening there are quite bad, especially in two main areas — Segambut Dalam and Sungai Penchala,” Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said.

Other MPs that were present in the meeting include Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar, Wangsa Maju MP Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Batu MP P Prabakaran.