MPs urge govt to buy Malay reserve land at higher prices

Three lawmakers say the value of the land should not be made based on its status as Malay reserve land, but on market value.

KUALA LUMPUR: Three Parliamentarians today reminded the government to practise fairness when purchasing Malay reserve land and to pay appropriate prices based on market value rather than below market prices based on the land’s status.

When speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Khalid Samad (Amanah-Shah Alam) said the government was victimising the Malays when it purchased land from them at lower prices.

“Malay reserve land is meant to aid the Malays but they are instead victimised by the government.

“It is tyrannical of the government to use Malay reserve land status to purchase the land at a lower price,” Khalid said during the debate on the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill 2016.

Supporting him was Othman Aziz (Umno-Jerlun) and Hasbullah Osman (Umno-Gerik), who also questioned why the Valuation Department had valued Malay reserve land at a lower rate.

“I don’t think the land value should be made based on its status (as Malay reserve land). It should instead be based on market value,” said Hasbullah, adding that the Federal Government should set an example by providing a higher value than the going market rate when buying over Malay reserve land.

“What is wrong with offering more? The government wouldn’t lose out or go bankrupt by doing so.

“We (the government) can give out 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), so what is the problem (with paying more for Malay reserve land)?”

Hasbullah said the government might even make a bigger profit once it developed the land, and cited as an example, the house he himself purchased and sold later for a huge profit.

“I purchased a house in Pandan Indah for RM68,000 and sold it for RM360,000. That is because of development.”