PAS warns Umno Youth against twisting 'mosque land' issue

PAS has lashed out at Penang UMNO Youth for fanning racial hatred sentiments against the state government over the sale of Bayan Mutiara’s land.

Penang PAS deputy commissioner Mujahid Yusof Rawa said the issue surrounding the sale of Bayan Mutiara’s 41.6 hectare land was sensationalised based on narrow racial and religion sentiments.

“The fact is the development plan approved by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) in 2006 was based on the submission of the previous developer who failed to develop it. It is well known that when the land was sold to another developer through open tender, a new plan must be submitted to MPPP because the old one had expired. The new plan has yet to be submitted for development,” he explained.

The Parit Buntar member of parliament went on to stress that the land was approved in 2006 under the BN administration, and questioned why the state government at that point had not subdivided the land and gazette it for mosque to the Penang Islamic Affairs Council (MAIPP).

“They still had one year plus to do so before Pakatan Rakyat took over the state. Suddenly now the state government is blamed,” he added.

Penang UMNO Youth led by its leader Shaik Hussein Mydin and its ally Perkasa had been harassing chief minister Lim Guan Eng for selling the Bayan Mutiara land to Ivory Properties for RM1.02 billion.

Lim however said UMNO's accusations were premature.

“UMNO can only claim that the mosque or school land has been sold or disappeared if the new plans does not include these places,” he said, adding that the Bayan Mutiara land had yet to be subdivided.

Ivory Properties had pledged to comply with all requirements by the authorities and will reserve lands for mosque and other places of religious should the need arise.

Mujahid meanwhile reminded that by default, a mosque must be included in order for a housing project catering more than 1,300 or 1,500 units to be approved.

-Harakahdaily