Rural and Regional Development Minister Shafie Apdal is attempting to cover up the Mara property imbroglio by downplaying it, accused PAS lawmaker Mahfuz Omar.
"(Shafie's) statement is very confusing and an attempt to hide the truth," he said in a statement today.
On Sunday, Shafie (photo) said the Melbourne property purchase had followed set procedures and that there was no element of price inflation.
"I would say the facts which they had communicated were incorrect, based on what is stipulated in the agreement, what is stated in the agreement is correct, unless there was another agreement," he had said.
Commenting further, Mahfuz said the minister should have explained why Mara, through one of its subsidiaries, purchased the property at a price higher than market rates.
The Pokok Sena MP compared the Mara issue to the controversy surrounding Lembaga Tabung Haji's purchase of a plot of Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) land from 1MDB.
He said both agencies are tasked with looking out for bumiputera interests and both purchased properties well above market rates.
"History is repeating itself," he lamented, calling for a thorough probe into the matter.
Annuar has failed Mara'
Australian newspaper, The Age, had reported that a top Mara officer, senior official and former politician had allegedly spent millions in government funds to buy Dudley International House in Melbourne.
The trio allegedly "overbid" for the building, overpaying by A$4.75 million (RM13.8 million) to be pocketed as bribes back home.
In a separate statement today, Lim Kit Siang called for Mara chairperson Annuar Musa (photo) to be sacked, despite the latter saying his term as Mara chairperson would expire on July 18.
"If he is not prepared to resign, then he must be sacked.
"He has failed Mara. The abuses, malpractices and criminal offences in the Mara property scams in Australia are gross violations of the Mara vision," he added.
The DAP leader chastised Annuar's leadership, saying Mara had degenerated into a disgraceful organisation under him, shaming Malaysia internationally.
He pointed out that even though Annuar had initially feigned ignorance about the suspicious property purchase in Australia, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli had revealed that Annuar was briefed on these activities in May last year.
'Where is MACC?'
Lim (photo) said Mara had used offshore companies to purchase four properties in Melbourne from 2012 to 2013 for an astounding total of RM375.4 million.
The four properties were the Dudley International House and lots on Swanston Street, Exhibition Street and Queens Streets.
The properties except for the one on Swanston Street were reported to have been overpaid for, he noted.
Since using offshore companies to purchase properties at overpriced rates seem to be their modus operandi, he said the over-pricing of the Swanston Street property ought to be scrutinised.
Lim then criticised the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for having failed its mission to combat corruption with the eruption of this Mara property scandal.
"Where is MACC (in all this)?" he asked.
"(Shafie's) statement is very confusing and an attempt to hide the truth," he said in a statement today.
On Sunday, Shafie (photo) said the Melbourne property purchase had followed set procedures and that there was no element of price inflation."I would say the facts which they had communicated were incorrect, based on what is stipulated in the agreement, what is stated in the agreement is correct, unless there was another agreement," he had said.
Commenting further, Mahfuz said the minister should have explained why Mara, through one of its subsidiaries, purchased the property at a price higher than market rates.
The Pokok Sena MP compared the Mara issue to the controversy surrounding Lembaga Tabung Haji's purchase of a plot of Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) land from 1MDB.
He said both agencies are tasked with looking out for bumiputera interests and both purchased properties well above market rates.
"History is repeating itself," he lamented, calling for a thorough probe into the matter.
Annuar has failed Mara'
Australian newspaper, The Age, had reported that a top Mara officer, senior official and former politician had allegedly spent millions in government funds to buy Dudley International House in Melbourne.
The trio allegedly "overbid" for the building, overpaying by A$4.75 million (RM13.8 million) to be pocketed as bribes back home.
In a separate statement today, Lim Kit Siang called for Mara chairperson Annuar Musa (photo) to be sacked, despite the latter saying his term as Mara chairperson would expire on July 18."If he is not prepared to resign, then he must be sacked.
"He has failed Mara. The abuses, malpractices and criminal offences in the Mara property scams in Australia are gross violations of the Mara vision," he added.
The DAP leader chastised Annuar's leadership, saying Mara had degenerated into a disgraceful organisation under him, shaming Malaysia internationally.
He pointed out that even though Annuar had initially feigned ignorance about the suspicious property purchase in Australia, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli had revealed that Annuar was briefed on these activities in May last year.
'Where is MACC?'
Lim (photo) said Mara had used offshore companies to purchase four properties in Melbourne from 2012 to 2013 for an astounding total of RM375.4 million.The four properties were the Dudley International House and lots on Swanston Street, Exhibition Street and Queens Streets.
The properties except for the one on Swanston Street were reported to have been overpaid for, he noted.
Since using offshore companies to purchase properties at overpriced rates seem to be their modus operandi, he said the over-pricing of the Swanston Street property ought to be scrutinised.
Lim then criticised the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for having failed its mission to combat corruption with the eruption of this Mara property scandal.
"Where is MACC (in all this)?" he asked.
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