Probe land acquisition, Suhakam urged ACA

Probe land acquisition, Suhakam urges ACA
07/06/2005 The Star

ALOR STAR: Suhakam has urged the Anti-Corruption Agency to probe an allegation of corruption in the acquisition of 1.8ha of land to build a hostel for a private complex.

Suhakam investigation and complaints committee chairman Prof Datuk Mohd Hamdan Adnan said yesterday that negotiations where affected villagers were called in individually had aroused suspicion.

“By right, the state Land and Mines office and the developer should call for dialogues to discuss the offers openly,” he said after meeting complainants at the Kampung Datuk Murad community hall.

Some 113 households in Kampung Datuk Murad and Kampung Tok Bidan are affected. Mohd Hamdan said he would seek the Attorney-General’s advice on the state government's acquisition of land to build the hostel.

“Why must the villagers sacrifice their properties for such a project?” he asked. Derga assemblyman Cheung Khai Yan said he had brought up the villagers’ woes at the state assembly.

“Every time I bring the matter up, I was told that the state executive council was still discussing the issue,” he said.