Perak MB: Corporations reaping millions by operating illegally on state land

Corporations have been reaping millions by operating plantations and farms illegally for decades on land belonging to the Perak state government and its government-linked companies (GLC), claimed Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

He said this legacy problem from the past BN administration was discovered when checks were done after investors expressed an interest in developing the lands.

"But when we checked, there are already 'guests' there who have oil palm plantations with fully grown trees.

"Some even have plantations worth millions of ringgit.

"Others who are squatting on state and GLC land have divided the lots and rented it to others. They've become the ‘government’," Faizal told Malaysiakini in an interview on Monday.

He added that the previous administration had not collected any revenue from the illegal activities in the farm.

This is something that he plans to change.

"Say someone has been squatting on land A and has developed a good business there, with workers and so on. This is in line with the government's policy to open up land to help the people.

"So what we can do is grant the land rights to a GLC and work with those people so land revenue can be channeled to the state," he said.

As for small-scale farmers who depend on the crops to earn a living, Faizal reiterated that the Perak government will find ways to help them, including by giving them alternative land to work on.

Meanwhile, on the issue of residents living on Temporary Occupation Licences (TOL), the menteri besar said those who are not living near important places such as rivers, will be given ownership grants.

Last week, he had told the Perak state assembly that to date, there have been 12,668 TOL occupants in Perak since 2012. - Mkini