KUALA LUMPUR – Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Khairuddin Aman Razali must explain allegations of improprieties in the proposed sale and lease of two plots of land owned by the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB), said Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.
In a statement today, Kok – who is also Khairuddin’s predecessor – said she was “most perturbed” after reading allegations on social media on the lifting of the moratorium which she had ordered and imposed on the sale and development of all real estate owned by MRB.
“I read with shock on the letters purportedly written by the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry (MPIC) and the MPIC Minister’s office which directed MRB director-general Datuk Zairosani Mohd Nor to lift the Moratorium of land sales/lease and carry out:
“(i) the lease of Lot 20013 (old lot no: 76) at Jalan Ampang to a PAS-related foundation, Al-Noor Foundation at a below market lease rate at RM0.70 per sq feet (market price is RM2.50 per sq feet); and (ii) the proposed sale of an 8.8 acre prime land of Lot 20012 (old lot no: 75) known as the heritage land at Jalan Ampang at RM1,032.92 per sq feet (market price is estimated between RM1,500 to RM 1,800 per sq feet), which is below market price to a private company called Eurowhite Sdn Bhd.
“If the documents and accusations above are true, then Khairuddin is duty bound to explain the reasons why he ordered the sales and lease of the prime land of MRB below market rate.”
In denying the fire sale, MRB in a statement today acknowledged that it had called for a tender for the sale and lease of the land, saying that the land valuations were in line with the views of the Valuation and Property Services Department, the Finance Ministry, and National Heritage Department.
MRB added Al-Noor Foundation’s bid for Lot 20013 was the “highest”.
But it said no decision had been made by the board as it had yet to be tabled to the minister.
“Therefore, MRB stresses that no agreements or transactions have occurred with any parties whatsoever.”
According to Kok, when she left the ministry following a change in government in February last year, MRB had cash reserves of about RM1.5 billion.
“Its finances were and are very healthy. This has been confirmed by the previous MRB Chairman Datuk Sankara Nair. To safeguard the assets of MRB, I informed the then chairman to impose a moratorium – which he did – on the sales of all properties owned by MRB, as I wanted MRB to go back to its core business principles and purpose i.e. to carry out rubber research and not to deviate from it.”
Kok said the sales of properties by statutory bodies such as MRB must be approved by the cabinet.
She also slammed MRB’s denial, calling it “hollow and a mere gimmick”. “The official correspondences viral in the social media should be investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.” – The Vibes, May 28, 2021
