SHAH ALAM: Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications (BNSC) deputy director Datuk Eric See-To said there is a possible conflict of interest in the compensation to settlers in the Ijok land scandal.
He said the decision by the Selangor state government to appoint Daim & Gamany law firm that has links to a PKR leader to be representative to the settlers has raised various questions that have yet to be answered until now.
“This has given the impression that the law firm had arranged to take on this case. The PKR member which has links to this firm is R. Sivarasa who is also Subang member of parliament.
“Selangor Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali) is also a PKR member. The Selangor Menteri Besar, who is also the deputy president of the party, was represented by Sivarasa, who is from PKR.
“How did this situation take place? Perhaps Sivarasa could have excused himself from representing the settlers due to this possible conflict of interest,” said See-To in a statement today.
See-To also raised the question whether the law firm had told the settlers that their land was going to be sold for RM1.18 billion and that the two companies that have failed the settlers for 18 years will be getting RM880 million while the settlers will only get RM300 million.
“Did the law firm inform the settlers that the buyer of the land intends to develop a RM15 billion Gross Development Value project on the settlers' former lands?
“Such information would have helped the settlers - many of whom are old and less educated - to make a more informed decision whether to take up the offer to settle,” added See-To.
BN strategic communications director Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan had earlier demanded an explanation from Azmin on the state government’s action in handing over two plots of land worth RM1.18 billion in Ijok to two companies, Mujur Zaman Sdn Bhd and LCBN Development Sdn Bhd, in 2016.
The plots of land spanning 880ha was bought by LBCN Development Sdn Bhd and Mujur Zaman Sdn Bhd in 1998.
The two plots were seized by the Selangor state government when Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was the Menteri Besar in 2009 after the developer appointed by settlers had failed to develop the land.