Call on BN Perak Government to cancel the approval of prime lands to cronies

MEDIA STATEMENT

1. Call on BN Perak Government to cancel the approval of prime lands to cronies and UMNO/BN related companies as it is still not too late in law.

2. Dato’ Seri Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir owes the public an explanation why these lands were approved to these companies.

3. These lands should be awarded through open tender with strategic areas reserved for public amenities.

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The pro UMNO media and UMNO leaders recently brought out the issue of my involvement in the reforestation project in Gua Musang, Kelantan to divert public attention from the land scandals that I have exposed against the BN Perak Government in the State Assembly.

Amongst the many land scandals that I have exposed are the following:-

1. 15.0 acres of prime land in Mukim Lumut approved to Reality Axis Sdn Bhd.

2. 32.07 acres of prime land (lot 6593) in Mukim Kamunting approved to YBU Holding Sdn Bhd.

3. 147.84 acres of prime land in Mukim Lumut approved to be developed by Kinta Berkat Sdn Bhd.

4. 58 acres of town land in Bandar Lumut approved to J & S Holdings Sdn Bhd.

5. 40 acres of prime land at Perak Tengah (Sri Iskandar) approved to Toyo Chemicals Sdn Bhd.

The people behind the abovesaid companies are UMNO/BN leaders and cronies.

I have now been given to understand that the statutory approvals (Form 5A of the National Land Code) for the above said lands have not been issued and premiums for the above said lands have not been paid. I have sought legal opinions and have been informed that the above said approvals can still be cancelled without any adverse consequence to the State Government.

I call on the BN to cancel the above said approvals and have them offered for development through open tender. Some areas of the said lands must be reserved for the building of public amenities which will be required in future.

Dato’ Seri zambry Bin Abdul Kadir the BN Perak Menteri Besar has avoided answering me in the Perak State Assembly recent sitting with regard to the above said approvals.

BN Perak State Government owes the people an explanation why the above said lands were approved to the above said companies.

BN has scrutinized and questioned the award of the 1.1 acres of land approved by PR Penang Government in Taman Maggis even though it being awarded through open tender. I challenge the BN leadership to support my call for the above said prime lands worth Hundreds of Millions ringgit to be re-awarded through open tender if not we know they are mere hypocrites.

Dated this 31^st day of December 2012.

NGEH KOO HAM

MP FOR BERUAS &

STATE ASSEMBLYMAN FOR SITIAWAN

Full explanation on Kelantan land

MEDIA STATEMENT

(i) Ngeh & Nga were not given any land by Kelantan Government

(ii) The acquisition of Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd was a commercial transaction purchased in the open market

(iii) UMNO/BN wants to divert public’s attention from the land scandals exposed by Ngeh & Nga in the recent State Assembly

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A pro BN blog, Pisau.net maliciously claimed that Kelantan Menteri Besar, Tok Guru Nik Aziz approved to me and YB Nga Kor Ming 10,526 acres of land in exchange for our agreement to appoint Dato’ Seri Nizar Bin Jamaluddin as Menteri Besar in 2008.

The claim in Pisau.net is a blatant lie. UMNO knows the truth about the said land but pro BN media continue to cause confusion and therefore I feel the need to issue this media statement.

I have on 19/12/2012 lodged a police report for action to be taken under Section 8A (Offence for publishing false news) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 and Section 499 (Criminal Defamation) of the Penal Code against those who defamed Tok Guru Nik Aziz, YB Nga Kor Ming and me. I have instructed my lawyer to take legal action against those who have defamed YB Nga Kor Ming and me.

I would like to reiterate that neither YB Nga Kor Ming nor I was given any land by the Kelantan Government. The acquisition of Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd together with other investors in April this year (2012) was a commercial transaction purchased in the open market.

The above said issue was brought up by BN in order to divert the public’s attention from the scandals that YB Nga Kor Ming and I have exposed in the recent State Assembly involving BN Perak Government approving to UMNO/BN cronies state lands worth Hundreds of Millions Ringgit.

In order for the public to be very clear that there was no corrupt or any improper dealing in the acquisition of Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd, let me explain the following:-

(i) I have informed YB Lim Kit Siang a few month ago that I was involved in the acquisition of the above said company.

(ii) I have also informed and explained to the Pakatan Rakyat Perak leadership about 2 months ago of the said matter when a blog, Media Perak started to post malicious accusation against me and YB Nga Kor Ming with regard to the said matter.

(iii) I have by a leter dated 6/9/2012 informed the Inland Revenue Department of the acquisition and have asked the Department for a ruling whether a certain tax is payable with regard to the said acquisition.

(iv) The Deputy Minister for Plantation Industries and Commodities, Dato’ Hamzah Bin Zainuddin from UMNO has also been informed of the abovesaid acquisition as Chairman of Program Pembangunan Ladang Hutan (Reforestation Programme) which had granted a loan for the development of the said land. He met me personally in Parliament and explained that the Government will continue the loan even though the project is now taken over by me who is from the opposition. The said development to plant rubber timber clones trees is important to ensure sufficient sustainable supply of timber for the furniture industry.

Therefore, the acquisition of Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd was not done in a secretive manner. I must repeat that it was a commercial transaction purchased in the open market.

As the Perak PR leadership had been informed earlier, when the false allegation surfaced the last few days it did not take PR Perak by surprise. I would like to thank the PR Perak elected representatives for handling the issue so well that when BN elected representatives threw the false allegation in the Perak State Assembly, the PR representatives were able to corner them and made them look stupid. None of the BN elected representatives who raised the issue dared to repeat the allegation outside the State Assembly knowing very well that their allegation was false.

I have explained the matter through the media and Tok Guru Nik Aziz has also through his press secretary issued a media statement to refute the allegation on 21 December 2012. Tok Guru Nik Aziz has also personally refuted the allegation when asked by the media.

In order for the public to understand this matter more clearly let me lay out the following facts with regard to the said 10,526 acres of land.

1. On 13/9/20000, the Kelantan Government approved the land to Yayasan Islam Kelantan (YIK).

2. In December 2000, the land was approved to one company to develop but it failed to develop the land. The land was taken back by YIK on 18/8/2004.

3. YIK awarded the land to Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd to develop on 28/8/2005 and the Agreement was signed on 3/5/2006.

4. Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd also was not successful in developing the project and its shareholders decided to sell the company.

5. I and the other investors (YB Nga Kor Ming included) bought the company in April this year (2012).

Clearly, the allegation that we were given the land in exchange for our agreement to appoint Dato’ Seri Nizar Bin Jamaluddin in 2008 is a blatant lie.

Two (2) companies have failed. We hope we will succeed. The new shareholders are taking a business risk like any other investors.

As my personal integrity is being questioned, I would like to state that never in my whole life have I given a single sen of bribe and neither have I taken a single sen of bribe. This pledge I have made from the days of my youth when I was the Methodist Youth Fellowship President of the Chinese Methodist Church Ayer Tawar when I saw the upright suffers under a corrupt system. My adviser, the late Miss Cheok Bee Lan in holding fast to her Christian principles had to take the 7^th time her driving test before getting her driving licence just because she will not give in to then rampant corrupt practice of ‘guaranteed pass package’.

I state this with great humility as I have many other weaknesses but the public must not be allowed to doubt my sincerity in fighting corruption. We must not allow BN to use falsehoods to divert public’s attention from their corrupt practices.

Merry Christmas.

Dated this 24^th December 2012.

From: Ngeh Koo Ham

Mah Hang Soon shamlessly continue to claim credit for what Pakatan Rakyat did when in fact he or MCA has no say in the BN State Government of Perak.

(Ipoh 18 July, 2012)

I feel ashamed for Dato’ Mah Hang Soon, the MCA Exco member in the BN State Government when he continues to claim credit for the 2,500 acres of land approved to the nine independent Chinese Schools in Perak.

MCA has been in Government for more than 50 years but was not able to approve any land to support the 9 independent Chinese Schools. The 2,500 acres of land were approved when Pakatan Rakyat became the Government in Perak in 2008.

Even the RM2.0 Million premium imposed was reduced to RM10,000 only after Pakatan Rakyat pressured BN to follow Pakatan Rakyat’s policy of imposing nominal premium for non-profit organizations.

In order to show that Dato’ Mah Hang Soon or MCA has no say in the BN Government of Perak, even the 99 years lease with 80% premium rebate for Kg Tersusun and Chinese New Villages (which is worse than the terms for freehold title granted under Pakatan Rakyat Government) announced by him was not adopted by the BN Government due to objection from UMNO.

Dato’ Mah Hang Soon lied when he said the leasehold titles approval to Chinese New Villages is 99 years. It is only for 60 years. He lied when he said premium rebate given was 80% for 99 years lease when in fact it is only 50%. Many New Villagers were cheated when they paid premium for 99 years lease but were issued only with 60 years titles.

I called on Dato’ Mah Hang Soon to come clean on this matter.

I am lodging a police report against BN Perak Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir and Dato’ Mah Hang Soon for cheating the people.

If Dato’ Seri Zambry bin Abdul Kadir and Dato’ Mah Hang Soon want to claim credit for themselves, they must do what Pakatan Rakyat has not done.

I call on Dato’ Seri Zambry and Dato’ Mah Hang Soon to approve a yearly grant of RM2.5 Million to the 9 independent schools for the next 5 years as the amount received from the joint venture for the 2,500 acres of land is only RM1.1 Million per year for the next 5 years and not the expected RM3.6 Million annual income as the development of the proposed plantation has just commenced.

As a show of my support for these independent schools, I will donate another RM10,000 to Nan Hwa Private School in Manjung. I had donated RM40,000-00 to Nan Hwa Private School last year.

I call on both of them to also act immediately on the lands approved for Religious (Sekolah Agama) and Tamil Schools so that these schools will also be having immediate income to ease their financial burdens.

Dated this 18th day of July 2012.

NGEH KOO HAM
MP for Beruas & State Assemblyman for Sitiawan

Freehold title become 99 years leasehold title!

Press Release by YB Wong Kah Woh, the State Assemblyman for Canning on 16/06/2012 (Saturday):-

(IPOH, 16 June 2012) - A number of residents currently living in Taman Mirindi, Kampung Simee, Ipoh, have recently received notices from Pejabat Tanah dan Galian (PTG) informing them that there is a change in their title. In a press conference today, YB Wong Kah Woh and the residents expressed their shock to learn that their land status has been changed from a freehold title to a 99 years leasehold title!

Wong said that in the past month, the residents in Taman Mirindi received letters from PTG with instructions to go to PTG to collect the title change. PTG has cited reasons for this change in title as a previous mistake. However, when residents appeared to collect the new title at the PTG office, the found that the old title (Geran) was cancelled and was replaced with a leasehold title (Pajakan Negeri) of 99 years.

To add to their dismay, residents were not properly informed that the exchange of title will give them a 99 years leasehold title when they were at the land office. The residents feel misled by PTG.

Wong said, “The National Land Code (NLC) protects the people’s rights to the land by providing the indefeasibility of title. Since the title held by the residents up till now has been a freehold title and not a state lease with an expiry date, morally and legally, the PTG cannot force the people to accept the change in title especially in this case when the changes were done without their knowledge!”

Taman Mirindi was developed nearly 30 years ago. The recent instructions from PTG have caused major confusion. Residents are wondering if they bought a house with a freehold title or if it was just leasehold. During this period, a lot of houses have exchanged hands by way of sub-sale and if the title were to be changed from freehold during the purchase to 99 years leasehold, it is unfair to the residents. PTG’s reason of it being a “mistake” cannot stand.

Wong said that a resident bought a house in the year 1998/1999 costing around RM50, 000. During the time of sale, the title was clearly stated as freehold title. Now that the resident has collected the new title from PTG, the title states that it is a 99 years lease expiring in 2081. This affects their indefeasibility in land ownership.

“Before PTG issues such letters, they should first check with the proprietors concerned and verify if the title was freehold or leasehold during their purchase. If PTG can send a notice of cancelation of title or exchange the title from freehold to leasehold on a whim, it means that the title in hand, which is protected under NLC, is just a useless piece of paper,” said Wong.

Another problem foreseen is that if banks get wind of the fact that the status of the title has changed and the house is currently under bank loan and payments are made in instalments, it would be an issue as to whether banks will recall the loans as the value of the property has dropped.

“PTG should give Taman Mirindi residents a clear explanation. Also, PTG should allow those who have returned their old title in exchange of a new one to recollect their old title until further decisions are made by the PTG,” said Wong.

Democratic Action Party

Wong Kah Woh said today that Zambry should declassify all documents, from 2007 until the approval of the iron ore distribution center, VALE in the winding up session of the sitting on Monday

Press Release by YB Wong Kah Woh, the State Assemblyman for Canning on 08/04/2012 (Sunday):-

The State Assemblyman of Canning, YB Wong Kah Woh said today that the Barisan National appointed Menteri Besar, Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir should declassify all documents, from 2007 until the approval of the iron ore distribution center, VALE in the winding up session of the sitting on Monday in order to let the people of Perak form their own judgment of what is right and wrong.

Wong pointed out that Zambry had selectively declassified a letter signed by Dato’ Seri Mohd Nizar bin Jamaludin but other official documents throughout the approval process has not been declassified. Other documents that have not been declassified includes the BN government’s correspondence with the Vale, minutes of meetings of all relevant government agencies, conditions set by the state government in the approval and the views of various departments.

“Simply relying on a letter signed by Nizar that has been taken out of context shows the lack of transparency of the Barisan National state government led by Zambry. Where is their credibility?”

Wong also pointed out that the Pakatan Rakyat is not opposed to any investment. However, the interest of the people must be taken into account. It is very clear that rhe VALE project was approved by the BN state government in Teluk Rubiah instead of Tanjong Hantu, which has been found to be a better site by the then Pakatan rakyat’s State Government as Tanjong Hantu has been deforested with minimal residences.

It was also reported that Zambry had claimed that there is “opposition member” who attended the protest at Teluk Rubiah had told him that Pakatan Rakyat is now doing damage control exercise. Wong refuted the claim and said that as a responsible Menteri Besar, Zambry should not make such an unfounded statement. Dato’ Seri Nizar, Dato’ Ngeh Koo Ham, YB Sivakumar and Wong himself had attended the protest in order to listen to the people’s wishes. Wong challenged Zambry to name the so-called “opposition member” in order to support his statement, or he should retract the said unfounded accusation immediately.

DAP

What Transformation is Najib talking about when after more than 3 months a simple circular on the exemption of stamp duties cannot be issued?

Media Statement by Member of Parliament of Beruas YB Ngeh Koo Ham on Tuesday, 29 March 2012

What Transformation is Najib talking about when after more than 3 months a simple circular on the exemption of stamp duties cannot be issued? Stamp offices have yet to receive the circular on the exemption of stamp duties on housing loan agreements under the Skim Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PR1MA) approved in the 2012 Budget.

Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak presented the 2012 Budget in Parliament on Friday 7 October 2011 and it was subsequently approved.

In the said budget, Parliament had approved the full exemption of stamp duties on housing loan agreements for the purchase of residential properties under the PR1MA scheme which is priced up to RM300,000.00 for the Sales and Purchase Agreements executed from 1 January 2012 until 31 December 2016.

Unfortunately after more than 3 months, the stamp offices have yet to receive the circular with regards to the above said exemption of stamp duties. I have confirmed the same with the Sitiawan stamp office.

Due to this delay in the dissemination of the said circular, housing loan documentations could not be completed causing the release of housing loans to be delayed. Consequently, this has put developers to be in a cash tight situation and causing housing construction projects to slow down.

I call on the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to explain why the said circular on full exemption of housing loans has yet to be issued, and that the same be issued immediately or else no one is going to believe his many alphabet soup Transformation slogans.

29 March 2012

YB Ngeh Koo Ham

Member of Parliament of Beruas

MACC must explain

Media Statement by YB Ngeh Koo Ham, Member of Parliament for Beruas on Tuesday, 29 March 2012.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must explain if UMNO leaders are interfering in their investigation process or privy to their investigation. BN charging PR elected representatives to distract them from their political campaigns against BN’s misuse of power.

Two days ago, a tweet in the twitter account “Sungai Rapat” stated that YB Nga Kor Ming who is the MP of Taiping and the State Assemblyman for Pantai Remis will be charged in court soon with regard to a tailoring business in which his wife was a passive investor.（https://twitter.com/#!/sungairapat/status/184475844377444352）

The witnesses called by the DAP Disciplinary Committee include 6 Pakatan Rakyat Perak Government Executive Councillors and the Ipoh City Councillors who were in the tender committee have cleared YB Nga Kor Ming of any wrongdoings.

The twitter account “Sungai Rapat” is believed to be operated by the people engaged by current BN Perak State Government Senior Executive Councillor, Dato’ Hamidah bt. Osman as the said name refers to her state constituency.

If at all the contents of the tweet is true, I am puzzled as to how UMNO related people know of MACC’s decision while a case is still under investigation.

This matter is an issue of grave concern as MACC is clearly not independent if UMNO interferes in its investigations or is privy to the cases handled by MACC.

BN has caused many PR elected representatives to be falsely charged in court to distract them from the political campaigns against BN’s misuse of power. Among those PR elected representatives charged in court include YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, YB Karpal Singh, YB Tian Chua, YB Tony Pua, YB Lau Weng San, YB Mahfuz Omar, YB Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and YB Dr Hatta Ramli.

Hence, we call for MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed to clear the air to maintain MACC’s integrity in this investigation.

29 March 2012
YB Ngeh Koo Ham
Member of Parliament for Beruas