‘RM160m land deal still a bribery’

PKR alleged that the army pensions fund is paying RM160 million to Awan Megah and Astacanggih for a land belonging to the federal government.

PETALING JAYA: PKR today insisted that Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera’s (LTAT) purchase of the 226-acre land in Kota Raja, claimed to be owned by Awan Megah Sdn Bhd, is nothing more than a bribery.

Speaking at a press conference here, PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli said that the land does not belong to Awan Megah but the federal government instead.

Awan Megah is owned by Umno Wanita leader Senator Raja Ropiaah Abdullah.

“The RM160 million [paid to Awan Megah] is nothing more than a bribery… There is no commercial basis whatsoever,”

He said the land was acquired in the 1980s from the Selangor government, under the National Land Code, for the purpose of developing the area into an army camp.

“Therefore, the federal government or any third party would have breached the provisions under the National Land Code if they turn it into anything else other than the army camp,” said Rafizi.

He also said even if anyone had intended to develop other projects on the land, the party involved must get the Selangor government’s approval first.

“Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim clearly stated last week that the land must be developed for [the purpose] it was acquired and nothing else,” he said.

He later produced a letter sent by the Federal Land and Minerals Depatment to its Selangor branch on July 17, 2009, appealing to the state government to allow the land to be transferred to Awan Megah.

The letter also indicated that the state government had rejected the federal government’s similar attempt (to get the land transferred to Awan Mega) on Jan 7, 2009.

“Therefore, the land is still owned by the federal government. Why should LTAT pay Awan Megah for the land then?” asked Rafizi.

‘Payment does not make sense’

He said that by acquiring the land, LTAT, through is subsidiary Boustead Holdings Bhd, would also have to complete the National Defence Education Centre (Puspahanas) project in Putrajaya, which was left undone by Awan Megah.

“Although LTAT had claimed that RM160 million was inclusive of the Puspahanas project, the land bond signed indicated that the project is only worth RM72.5 million.

“In fact, the project itself is not completed. So the RM160 million payment does not make sense,” he said.

Rafizi alleged that the deal would shortchange army veterans of their savings.

“Such huge payment for a dubious deal is a treachery against our army,” he said.

Last month, LTAT announced that it would acquire the 223-acre land from Awan Megah and a 80% stake in Astacanggih Sdn Bhd.

Astacanggih is owned by businessman Deepak Jaikishan, who has been making damaging statements against Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor.

PKR has claimed that the RM160 million acquisition is an attempt to silence Deepak.