S'wak lost RM530m in revenue from cheap land sales, claims DAP

S'WAK POLLS Sarawak DAP said taxpayers in the state may have lost up to RM530 million in revenue due to alleged corrupt practices in the state's land alienation process.

To back up its allegation, Wong King Wei, who was the assemblyperson for Padungan, released documents detailing the sales of about 14,000 acres of alienated state land at depressed prices to three companies.

The land lots are located in the Bintulu and Miri regions.

Wong (third from left in picture above) said the alienation exercises took place in May and August, 2014.

He said the premium paid by the companies – at RM300 per acre – was far below the market value.

Wong estimated the value to be RM3,000 to RM8,000 per acre, depending on access and locality.

DAP has previously named three other companies involved in purchasing the land at an average of RM300 per acre.

It claimed the directors of some the companies were family members of lawmakers in the ruling state BN.

"It is reasonable to believe that out of the 30,719.93 acres we discovered, a lot of it may involve Native Customary Rights (NCR) land," Wong told reporters in Kuching today. '

'The information is publicly available'

He said all information the party had obtained was publicly available.

Wong estimated that the Sarawak government may have lost up to RM140 million from the the sales of the land lots following the alienation exercise.

He also alleged that 267 acres of prime land located in Batu Kawah New Township was sold to a company at below market price, at a premium of RM110 million.

He claimed the market value of the land was closer to RM500 million, adding that documents showed the land was transferred upon a 10 percent downpayment.

Meanwhile, State DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen blamed state BN chief and Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem for the land sales.

"This habit of selling state land cheaply will render the future generations to become landless Sarawakians," said Chong.

"The chief minister has asked the DAP to talk about local issues in this election, so this is an issue we want answers on.

"I accept any challenge to a debate, which can be telecast live. I'd like to ask him (Adenan) about this cheap-selling state land policy," Chong said.

“I'd also like to hear his explanation on how the goods and services tax (GST) is not a local issue when every Sarawakian has been made to pay for it, and not just people in Peninsular Malaysia," he added.

Malaysiakini has contacted Adenan's press secretary for an official response to these claims and is awaiting the response. -Mkini