MACC urged to act against Samy Vellu over ‘suspicious’ land deal

This is the third report lodged against Samy Vellu over the ‘suspicious’ land acquisition during his term as a minister.

PUTRAJAYA: Former PKR deputy secretary-general Jenapala Perumal has threatened to lodge a report against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) if it refuses to take action against former MIC strongman Samy Vellu over allegations of a “suspicious” land acquisition during his term as a minister.

Speaking to reporters outside the MACC headquarters here today, he said several reports were made to the anti-graft agency against the former Sungai Siput MP in September 2016 and February 2017, but no investigation was launched.

Former Sungai Siput MIC division chief M Lokanathan, who was also present to lodge another report with MACC, said he hoped the commission would take action this time as the issue had been brought up since 2005.

He claimed Samy Vellu had bought 101 acres of land from a “plantation cooperative” aimed at building affordable housing for the holders of the cooperative.

“The land was purchased for far less than the market price at that time. It was bought at RM11,280 per acre although the market price was RM68,000 per acre.

“It should not have been sold to third parties other than the shareholders of the cooperative, but it was transferred to a Chinese businessman,” he alleged.

Questioning the purpose of the transfer, he said no development had been made on the land until now.

Later, he said, a building and halls belonging to a cooperative were transferred to the same businessman as well, but under a different company.

He said he had brought up the issue several times before but was sacked from the party for questioning it. - FMT