Teo: MCA division building stands on cheap land
 |
A site visit has revealed that a building meant to be the Hulu Langat MCA division headquarters now stands on state land that was allegedly leased to the party at RM1 per square foot (psf).
Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching (right), who led the visit along with local councillor Lee Kee Hiong today, said in comparison, the value of commercial land in Kajang town where the building is located is RM150psf.
“For the other political parties like DAP, PAS, or PKR, we need to purchase land or building for our party premises at market value. How can MCA get the land at such a discounted price?
“This type of discounted price is not available to any NGO or any other type of organisation in Malaysia, but only to Umno, Gerakan, MCA, and MIC,” she said.
Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching (right), who led the visit along with local councillor Lee Kee Hiong today, said in comparison, the value of commercial land in Kajang town where the building is located is RM150psf. “For the other political parties like DAP, PAS, or PKR, we need to purchase land or building for our party premises at market value. How can MCA get the land at such a discounted price?
“This type of discounted price is not available to any NGO or any other type of organisation in Malaysia, but only to Umno, Gerakan, MCA, and MIC,” she said.
The 6,900sq-ft plot is one of 24 plots of state land that Selangor Select Committee on Land and District Offices chairperson Ng Suee Lim alleged were bought or leased by BN component parties at RM1psf during the period of its rule.
Five of these plots went to MCA, of which the largest is a 34,848sq-ft plot in Kuala Selangor.
State MCA and Umno leaders have previously claimed that the lands were bought cheaply for community purposes only, such as community halls and kindergartens.
Lee (left) said the MCA divisional building does not have Kajang Municipal Council’s (MPKj) approval because it encroaches on river reserve land and three stop-work orders issued since 2009 went unheeded.
However, she said, the federal government acquired the land for the MRT project on Feb 10, before legal action could be taken, and construction has since stopped.
“Since the building is not approved by MPKj, it should not get any compensation (from the federal government),” she said.
Teo challenged MCA to reveal the compensation it was paid for the land acquisition, which she said would be at market value.
‘Return the compensation to the people’
“They should return it (the compensation) to the people because they got the land at such a cheap price.
“The land is supposed to be used by the rakyat, not by political parties. If you want to build your party building, please buy the land at market value,” Teo said.
For comparison, Lee pointed out that MPKj will be claiming RM16 million from the Federal Land Commission for the 1.584 acres 69,000sq-ft municipal council land across the road, which is also being acquired for the MRT project.
Five of these plots went to MCA, of which the largest is a 34,848sq-ft plot in Kuala Selangor.
State MCA and Umno leaders have previously claimed that the lands were bought cheaply for community purposes only, such as community halls and kindergartens.
Lee (left) said the MCA divisional building does not have Kajang Municipal Council’s (MPKj) approval because it encroaches on river reserve land and three stop-work orders issued since 2009 went unheeded. However, she said, the federal government acquired the land for the MRT project on Feb 10, before legal action could be taken, and construction has since stopped.
“Since the building is not approved by MPKj, it should not get any compensation (from the federal government),” she said.
Teo challenged MCA to reveal the compensation it was paid for the land acquisition, which she said would be at market value.
‘Return the compensation to the people’
“They should return it (the compensation) to the people because they got the land at such a cheap price.
“The land is supposed to be used by the rakyat, not by political parties. If you want to build your party building, please buy the land at market value,” Teo said.
For comparison, Lee pointed out that MPKj will be claiming RM16 million from the Federal Land Commission for the 1.584 acres This would also cover for the loss of the hall built on the land and the loss of income as a result of its demolition. It amounts to about RM232psf.
During the press conference outside the hall, Teo also displayed land search documents showing that the land in question was registered to three persons, whom Teo said were holding it in trust for MCA.
The documents list Hulu Langat MCA division as the address for the three persons, and says that it is a commercial land on a 99-year lease from Aug 24, 2004.At the time of the visit, MCA’s flag was flying on top of the white derelict building, flanked by BN flags and the Jalur Gemilang.
A sign posted on the site says the construction project is for a three-storey office building, and names MCA Hulu Langat division as project owner.
MCA trustee: Don't talk money
When contacted, one of the trustees, Choong Tow Chong, explained that MCA has had a branch at the site for 40 or 50 years.
He added that MCA also had a temporary occupancy licence for the land, and later applied for the land in accordance with state government’s procedures.
“That MCA branch had been nicknamed 'riverside party branch'. Just ask the people of Kajang, they will know,” he said.
Asked about the low price for the land, Choong said he was not aware of it.
“Let’s not talk about money; money hurts friendships,” he said, using the Chinese idiom, and insisted that the lease was above board.
“Whatever price the government gives, we’d just pay.”
Additional reporting by Kow Gah Chie.
He added that MCA also had a temporary occupancy licence for the land, and later applied for the land in accordance with state government’s procedures.
“That MCA branch had been nicknamed 'riverside party branch'. Just ask the people of Kajang, they will know,” he said.
Asked about the low price for the land, Choong said he was not aware of it.
“Let’s not talk about money; money hurts friendships,” he said, using the Chinese idiom, and insisted that the lease was above board.
“Whatever price the government gives, we’d just pay.”
Additional reporting by Kow Gah Chie.
No comments:
Post a Comment