DBKL confirms MACC took documents related to land sale

KUALA Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) executive director (planning) Datuk Mohd Najib Mohd has confirmed that the documents seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday was related to the probe on the sale of 64 parcels of land by the council.

He said the documents were taken from the Economic Planning and Development Department (JPEP), which was responsible for handling land privatisation projects.

“The investigation is ongoing and MACC has visited us repeatedly. 

“We are transparent about it,” Najib said, during a press conference held by Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng to address several community issues at the Taman Metropolitan Park, Kepong. 

He clarified that the visit by MACC was not considered a raid, as the anti-graft agency had only taken documents for investigations. 

“There was a report lodged on the land deals, and the MACC is taking necessary actions. 

“DBKL officers were also questioned over the land deals,” Najib said, adding he was not sure about the numbers of officers who had been called in for questioning.

When reporters asked him about whether DBKL was aware that the land deals were made without an open tender, he said only they followed procedures.

“We sell the land; we surely know about it. 

“The process was in accordance with the procedures we had in place while putting up land for sale," Najib added.

Lim said he was happy that his complaint to the MACC and the police report made on the controversial land deals were being investigated. 

“Why take two weeks? MACC should take action immediately.

“But I understand that MACC is shorthanded as they are preoccupied with the 1MDB investigation, so it is better late than never,” he said.

Lim added that he believed there was a scam involving the sale of DBKL land deals.

“There's a developer who got 16 out of 64 plots of land, and there is a huge scandal behind it. 

“The one who approved the land deals was former Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, so he is the prime suspect.

"I trust MACC will do a thorough job,” he said. 

Commenting on the direct negotiation of the land deals, Lim stressed that a good government was not supposed to make money from land deals. 

“If they want to make money, they should go to the highest bidder.

The lands were not sold through open or closed tender, so to me, this is not according to procedures,” he said.