2 ‘Datuks’ behind RM2 firm allegedly awarded Perak forestry deal
FMT Reporters
-February 11, 2019 6:04 PM
Kampar MP Thomas Su has questioned how a RM2 company was awarded a 50-year concession to develop 400ha in the Kledang Saiong and Bukit Kinta reserves. (File pic)PETALING JAYA: Two men with a “Datuk” title are the directors of a RM2 company allegedly awarded a project to develop 400ha of forest reserves in Perak.
This was revealed in checks by FMT on the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) documents after a DAP MP lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on the matter.
Earlier today, Kampar MP Thomas Su told FMT that the state government should clarify a letter which went viral recently.
Su said that according to the letter, the company was awarded the concession by the Perak Forest Resources Committee in December.
This was a mere five months after it was formed with a paid-up capital of only RM2 following the 14th general election, he said.
The company’s concession is allegedly for the development of 400ha of forests for plantations in the Kledang Saiong and Bukit Kinta reserves.
Thomas Su.“How is it that this RM2 company can receive this concession for 50 years?” Su asked, adding that the letter did not go into detail about what the company is allowed to do in its development.
“The menteri besar (Ahmad Faizal Azumu) was asked about this and he said he needs time to verify it, that is why I want MACC to investigate.”
Bernama had reported Faizal as saying that he needed to check the veracity of the letter issued by the Perak Forestry Department.
FMT has also contacted Faizal for comment and is awaiting a response.
Su said that before lodging the report, one of his officers had sought answers from the department but was unsuccessful.
It was learnt that the company was set up on July 26, 2018 in Kuala Lumpur although its business address is in Taiping.
According to the SSM documents, the company’s nature of business is “growing of plants for planting, commodity brokers and dealers, and wholesale of a variety of goods without any particular specialisation”.
Previously, environmental NGOs had raised concerns of suspicious land clearing activities at the Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve.
Subsequently, it was reported that the land clearing was illegal although it was carried out on land belonging to Menteri Besar Incorporated. However, this land is reportedly not located within the reserve.
A source told FMT that a state executive councillor from a Pakatan Harapan coalition party was allegedly involved in the deal to award the concession.
DAP MP: Why was Perak forest reserve given to company formed just after GE14?
Sylvia Looi
Malay Mail11 February 2019
Kampar MP Thomas Su speaks to reporters outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office in Meru February 11,2019. — Picture by Farhan NajibMore
IPOH, Feb 11 — The Perak government must explain the reason why it awarded a 400-hectare land concession to a newly-formed private company with a paid-up capital of just RM2, DAP’s Thomas Su said today.
The private company is understood to have been awarded concession of two forest reserves, namely Kledang Saiong and Bukit Kinta.
The Kampar MP questioned how a company with a paid up capital of RM2 could be given a 400-hectare concession just approximately five months after it was set up.
“The company was established on July 26 after the 14th general election and it was given a total of 400 hectare land for forest farm development (pembangunan ladang hutan) on December 14 at Kledang Saiong and Bukit Kinta Forest Reserve,” he said today after lodging a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the matter.
Su said he was tipped off on the matter after the approval letter from the Perak Forestry Department became viral on social media.
“This is wrong as the Mentri Besar had said the Pakatan Harapan government would suspend all logging activities but now this is happening,” he said, questioning how a five-month-old company with no profile record obtain 400 hectare land in the forest.
“We want to know why the company was chosen and why not other companies,” he added, noting that if forest reserves are constantly being degazetted, Perak would end up with no more forest reserves.
Su also said after the approval letter became viral online, he received calls from farmers in his constituency who had been working on state land.
“They have been working on the land for generations and applications for land being rejected but a five-month-old company can easily obtain land,” he said.
As the new government, Su said the Perak Pakatan Harapan government should not follow the Barisan Nasional practice of giving out land indiscriminately.
“Even if it was degazetted during BN time, the current government can gazette it back,” he said, urging the Mentri Besar to cancel the approval immediately.
On February 6, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) raised the alarm of suspicious land clearing activities at Kledang Hill, that is part of the Kledang-Saiong Forest Reserve.
Perak Forestry Department director Datuk Mohamed Zin Yusop had said that the Mentri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc) owned the parcel and it has been degazetted as part of the forest reserve.
Mentri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc) Chief Executive Officer Anuar Zainal Abidin later confirmed that the land clearing near the iconic Kledang hill is indeed illegal encroachment for the purpose of oil palm plantation.
