Former MB’s aide suggests Selangor bailing out firms in Ijok deal

(MMO) – Selangor’s decision to return land in Ijok to two developers whose contracts were revoked during Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s administration appeared like a bailout, suggested a special officer to the former mentri besar.

Faekah Husin also asked Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s administration to explain what contributions LBCN Development Sdn Bhd and Mujur Zaman Sdn Bhd had made to deserve such generosity from the state government.

Khalid’s aide pointed out that both firms were financially distressed when the settlement went through.

“What were their ‘deeds’ that the state government was willing to save them, when they carry so much debts with the banks? Is this not a form of bail-out?” she said in a statement on Friday.

Faekah pointed out that both companies not only flouted various National Land Code provisions, but also failed to proceed with the housing project in violation of their initial agreement with 980 settlers and thousands of house buyers.

She said this alone should have been enough for the Selangor government to distance itself from the two firms.

Faekah then cited leaked documents purportedly of a court settlement between the state government and the firms that suggested the former instead chose to return the seized land despite previous court rulings in its favour.

“The state government then rejoiced when the companies, which had betrayed the settlers and homebuyers, sold off the land and gained huge profits,” she said.

She was responding to a statement by Selangor strategic communication director Yin Shao Loong on Thursday touting that Azmin had solved the dispute “inherited” from Khalid’s administration.

Yin claimed Azmin’s decisive action on the Ijok land issue was necessitated by “high-risk” action during Khalid’s administration.

Faekah also mocked Yin for blaming Azmin’s controversial decision on Khalid.

“It is said that Khalid’s decision to seize the land imposed a high risk towards the state treasury. Do not lie. No court decision requires the government to pay hundreds of millions of ringgit,” she added.

Khalid’s administration had also addressed the majority of issues related to the land in Ijok, she said when pointing out that he had handed out 684 house keys to Taman Alam Perdana settlers and house buyers in 2012.

Selangor Barisan Nasional and some affected settlers will report Azmin’s decision to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission next week.

Azmin reportedly announced that settlers would be compensated RM421 million for the land, which the two firms have purportedly resold for RM1.18 billion.