Return rights and authority of Felda land - MBFM

The Felda Youth Council of Malaysia (MBFM) agrees and fully supports Felda's efforts in ensuring that ownership of its land which was dubiously transferred in the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City (KLVC) project is restored to FELDA.

Its president Muhammad Fadzli Hasan said the land was seen as a Felda asset that must be maintained and defended, and as such, it needed to be restored in any way.

"The MBFM was impacted by the report on the front page of Berita Harian yesterday on Felda's land rights entitled "Felda loss of land ownership in Jalan Semarak" and regretted how such a thing could happen.

"The new generations and the people of Felda are all disappointed at this weak governance, and we believe that the prime minister is sad and disappointed too when this happens," he said in a statement in Johor Bahru today.

Fadzli said MBFM welcomed and supported the three steps taken by Felda in handling the case by registering a caveat on the land, lodging a police report and conducting a full audit of all matters relating to the agreement and sale of the land.

He said MBFM hoped the matter would be taken seriously and urged that investigations be made immediately to bring those responsible to book.

Through media exposures, Felda was reported to be at risk of losing the rights to the land located in the strategic area of Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur following a suspected land ownership transfer business.

The land was now being developed with the KLVC project involving seven towers including the iconic Felda tower known as KLVC Tower1A.

Felda chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad yesterday said Felda was ready to take all forms of action to recover the rights to the land which was estimated to be worth RM270 million.

Shahrir also reportedly said that besides the police report lodged on Dec 12, other actions taken were to register a caveat on the land, cancel the full representative power of attorney issued and take civil action against the parties involved.

Meanwhile, the National Felda Settlers Children Association (Anak) today urged more reports be made to the police and the MACC on the case of Felda land loss at Jalan Semarak.

Its chairperson Mazlan Aliman said Anak would report to the MACC in Kuala Lumpur next Tuesday because it believed there was a misuse of power which has resulted in a land ownership transfer, and if indeed it was a violation of power, it hoped those involved would be charged in court.

Mazlan said this to reporters after lodging a report on the issue of 'lost' Felda land at the Sentral police station, South Johor Bahru district police headquarters here today.

He also highlighted the regrets of the settlers of Felda at the predicament and their concerns over the return of the "missing" land.

"We are also concerned at how the power of attorney is arbitrarily awarded to the company Synergy Prominade Sdn Bhd which has nothing to do with Felda and are doubtful of what Felda administration can do now to return the land," he said.

Yesterday, a local newspaper reported that Felda was at risk of losing rights on strategic land worth approximately RM270 million when it was believed to have been swapped through dubious transactions since 2015.

- Bernama