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KUALA LUMPUR – The Perak Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has initiated an investigation into the sale of a piece of land previously identified as a location for a new international airport in Seri Iskandar, Perak.
Perak MACC chief Datuk Mohd Fauzi Mohamad said the authorities received an official complaint from Manjoi assemblyman Datuk Asmuni Awi yesterday.
He added that a few individuals involved in the issue will be called to give their statements, without disclosing their names.
“The investigation will determine if there is any wrongdoing under MACC Act 2009,” he told Sinar Harian.
On Tuesday, Asmuni and three other Pakatan Harapan (PH) state lawmakers – Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (Sg Rapat), Howard Lee (Pasir Pinji) and Tan Kar Hing (Simpang Pulai) – were at Perak MACC office to lodge a complaint.
Lee told reporters that the complaint was filed to request for an investigation into the land sale and to clear PH’s name.
He added that the sale of the 188ha piece of land belonging to the Perak Development Corporation (PKNP) to a private company was never discussed at the state executive council meeting or by the PKNP board of directors during the PH administration.
Last Thursday, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad was reported to have said the land was sold to a private company when the state was under the administration of the PH government administration.
He said that under the Barisan Nasional government, the land was reserved for the Perak State Development Corporation for the building of an international airport.
On Tuesday, Aulong assemblyman Nga Kor Ming revealed that the land proposed for the construction of the international airport in Seri Iskandar had been sold.
During the debate on the royal address at the state assembly sitting, Nga said the sale of the land, about 40km from Ipoh, was by an irresponsible party without state permission.
He said the act was committed by irresponsible individuals as a matter of serious misconduct and wanted those responsible for selling the land to be brought to justice.
On Thursday, Saarani said the land was sold to a private company during the administration of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
In a Bernama report, he said that the land was reserved by the PSDC for the purpose of building the airport during the BN administration.
“So, since the land was sold during the PH era (by the PH government), we don’t have land to build a new airport.
“It cannot be taken back as the private company has already obtained planning permission to carry out mixed development in the area (airport site),” he was quoted as saying.
There have been talks to build a bigger airport in Perak to boost tourism and other sectors.
This is because the current Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh cannot be expanded due to the limited availability of land. – The Vibes, April 6, 2022