It is so hopelessly hilarious to see how Selangor Umno leaders are scrambling to disclaim responsibility and knowledge over their role in the state land grab scandal.
We had on Tuesday exposed a 87,188 square feet of land which was given to Subang Umno at dirt cheap nominal prices in Ara Damansara in 2004. This piece of land has since been developed into the 200-unit Suria Damansara condominium launched in 2006. This condominium is worth an estimated RM90 million based on today’s prices.
Umno and MCA state assemblypersons Abdul Shukor Idrus and Wong Koon Mun had explained during the last state assembly sitting that the land they received on the cheap were used for the community, such as kindergartens or public community halls.
We had called on them to explain where exactly is the kindergarten and the community halls on this 87,188 sq ft of land. This is the first of the 24 parcels of land which we will expose as a clear-cut case of abuse of power and corruption by the Barisan Nasional government during their reign in the state from 2000 to 2008.
Having been caught with their pants down, Umno leaders are now fumbling to deny their complicity in the land-grab, and blaming other Umno leaders.
When contacted by the press, Subang Umno division chief Muhammad Bushro Mat Johor said there is no such land in possession of Subang Umno. “No, there is not even a single piece of land listed in Subang Umno’s asset list since I became the division chief,” he said. However when pressed for evidence, the Paya Jaras assemblyperson pointed out that any query on the land is best directed to the previous division chief.
However, the previous division chief, Mokhtar Dahlan, when queried then passed the buck to Kelana Jaya Umno acting chief Yahya Bujang. He claimed that although it was Subang Umno which received the land, “the land was handed over to Kelana Jaya Umno after a constituency re-delineation exercise in 2004.”
Unfortunately, and coincidentally, Yahya Bujang is out of the country and is hence unable to respond immediately to the allegations. Mokhtar Dahlan had disclosed however, that the land was originally intended for the construction of Subang Umno division’s headquarters. It is a clear admission that BN had abused its powers to benefit the interest of its component parties.
At the same time, the opposition leader in Selangor, Satim Diman (left), pleaded ignorance when queried and responded that said the matter should be referred instead to Selangor Umno secretary Mohd Zin Mohamed.
Mohd Zin then, with great finesse, responded that he “needs some time and will respond in due time after his researcher gathers more information on the allegation”.
Passing-the-buck game
The passing-the-buck game cannot be any more comical than the above. Umno knows that they’ve been caught red-handed putting their hands into the cookie jar, and no one wants to accept responsibility for robbing the people’s land for their own profit.
The biggest disappointment for all Malaysians, and particularly Selangorians, is the fact that the prime minister has remained steadfastly silent on the above issue, despite his insistence that Umno has “transformed”. Najib Abdul Razak, who is also the Selangor Umno chief, must get his house in order by explaining the land grab scandal and accepting responsibility for Umno’s sins.
He must make amends for Umno’s corrupt policies of the past by returning all such ill-gotten profits to the state government for the benefit of the rakyat.
We had on Tuesday exposed a 87,188 square feet of land which was given to Subang Umno at dirt cheap nominal prices in Ara Damansara in 2004. This piece of land has since been developed into the 200-unit Suria Damansara condominium launched in 2006. This condominium is worth an estimated RM90 million based on today’s prices.
Umno and MCA state assemblypersons Abdul Shukor Idrus and Wong Koon Mun had explained during the last state assembly sitting that the land they received on the cheap were used for the community, such as kindergartens or public community halls.
We had called on them to explain where exactly is the kindergarten and the community halls on this 87,188 sq ft of land. This is the first of the 24 parcels of land which we will expose as a clear-cut case of abuse of power and corruption by the Barisan Nasional government during their reign in the state from 2000 to 2008.
Having been caught with their pants down, Umno leaders are now fumbling to deny their complicity in the land-grab, and blaming other Umno leaders.
When contacted by the press, Subang Umno division chief Muhammad Bushro Mat Johor said there is no such land in possession of Subang Umno. “No, there is not even a single piece of land listed in Subang Umno’s asset list since I became the division chief,” he said. However when pressed for evidence, the Paya Jaras assemblyperson pointed out that any query on the land is best directed to the previous division chief.
However, the previous division chief, Mokhtar Dahlan, when queried then passed the buck to Kelana Jaya Umno acting chief Yahya Bujang. He claimed that although it was Subang Umno which received the land, “the land was handed over to Kelana Jaya Umno after a constituency re-delineation exercise in 2004.”
Unfortunately, and coincidentally, Yahya Bujang is out of the country and is hence unable to respond immediately to the allegations. Mokhtar Dahlan had disclosed however, that the land was originally intended for the construction of Subang Umno division’s headquarters. It is a clear admission that BN had abused its powers to benefit the interest of its component parties.At the same time, the opposition leader in Selangor, Satim Diman (left), pleaded ignorance when queried and responded that said the matter should be referred instead to Selangor Umno secretary Mohd Zin Mohamed.
Mohd Zin then, with great finesse, responded that he “needs some time and will respond in due time after his researcher gathers more information on the allegation”.
Passing-the-buck game
The passing-the-buck game cannot be any more comical than the above. Umno knows that they’ve been caught red-handed putting their hands into the cookie jar, and no one wants to accept responsibility for robbing the people’s land for their own profit.
The biggest disappointment for all Malaysians, and particularly Selangorians, is the fact that the prime minister has remained steadfastly silent on the above issue, despite his insistence that Umno has “transformed”. Najib Abdul Razak, who is also the Selangor Umno chief, must get his house in order by explaining the land grab scandal and accepting responsibility for Umno’s sins.
He must make amends for Umno’s corrupt policies of the past by returning all such ill-gotten profits to the state government for the benefit of the rakyat.
TONY PUA is DAP’s member of parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara.
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