‘We have proof that MB lied’

A logging company wants the police to investigate Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob and Umno secretary Rahim Abas for alleged cheating.

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PETALING JAYA: A police report has been lodged against two Pahang Umno leaders, including Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob, for allegedly cheating a logging company over the ownership of a plot of land in Pekan, Pahang.

Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd (SGM) shareholder Lee Sin, who filed the report today, alleged that Adnan and Rahim Abas, the Pahang Umno secretary, committed a criminal offence when they previously claimed that the 10,000 acre land belonged to the party.

Lee claimed that he had obtained several documents from Umno members during the party’s recent annual assembly that proved that Adnan and Rahim had “lied” and cheated SGM.

He said one of the documents, which was shown to the media, indicated that Umno had failed to pay premium for the plot of logging land. This, according to Lee, meant that Umno never owned property as the state land authority would have reclaimed it.

The letter dated Dec 28, 2002 sent from the land office to the Pahang Umno office was the approval for a final time extension to pay up RM4.8 million in premium for the land.

“We want the police to investigate and ascertain the rightful owner of the land and take action against the two leaders if it is found that they committed a crime,” said Lee, adding that his personal investigations revealed that Pahang Umno never owned any land in the state.

Did MB act on his own?

Lee said it should also be investigated if Adnan, who is also Pahang Umno chairman, had acted on his own or received a resolution from the Umno board of trustees.

“If he had acted on his own, wouldn’t it be against the regulations of the Registrar of Societies for Pahang Umno to issue a court action against our company?” he asked.

Lee said earlier this year, Pahang Umno launched a suit against SGM to stake claim on the damage owed to the company by the state government, arguing that the land was private property owned by Pahang Umno.

Kuantan-based Seruan Gemilang had in 2002 sued the state for breaching a logging contract in which Seruan Gemilang claimed it was issued a permit to clear 8,000 acres of forest in Pekan, said to be owned by Pahang Umno.

In 2007, the Kuantan High Court awarded RM37,127,471.60 in damages with 8% interest per annum backdated to Dec 31, 2000. In total, the amount due to the company is now over RM70 million.

The award was retained as the Federal Court denied the state government’s application for leave to appeal against the May 2007 decision.

Since then, Seruan Gemilang had repeatedly attempted in vain to compel the state to pay up, including resorting to holding demonstrations, appealing to the prime minister and even a holding hunger strike.

SGM investor Ramli Sulaiman said:”This is outright cheating by two VIPs. If this is not explained to the rakyat, then we would consider going to other authorities including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.”