No decrease in Malay reserve land in Perak, says MB

IPOH: The Perak government has denied that its total Malay reserve land has decreased.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the Malay reserve land in the state has increased last year.

“While I don’t have the exact figure, I believe that the percentage of the (Malay reserve) land in the state is over 45% and is almost about 50%.

"In 2021, the total Malay reserve land was about 953,043ha and it increased to about 953,076ha last year,” he told reporters after distributing bubur lambuk at the Ashby Flats here Thursday (March 30).

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Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad had on Wednesday told the Dewan Rakyat that most states have recorded an increase in Malay reserve land except for Kuala Lumpur, Kedah and Perak.

This was said in his reply to a supplementary question by Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib (PN-Maran), whereby Nik Nazmi had said that the Malay reserve land in Perak had decreased from 953,042ha to 953,040ha.

Saarani said about 900ha of land will also be gazetted as Malay reserve land this year.

“If we had to degazette a piece of land, the Land and Mines Office and District Office will need to find a replacement with the same value or even higher to make sure that there is more Malay reserve land.

“Once they have identified these, the matter will be brought to the state executive council meeting so we can begin the process. It usually won’t take years to settle,” he added.