Bernard Dompok: Government Instructed MRB Transaction

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The sale of the Sungai Buloh land, previously owned by the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB), was under the instruction of the government, says a former minister.

Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, who was the plantation industries and commodities minister from 2008 to 2013, said the price of RM1.5 billion was agreed by the MRB.

“Whatever land that belongs to the government belongs to the country and the government of the day instructed that it should be sold to ATNB (Aset Tanah Negara Berhad).

“Initially, I think there were some communications that the Finance Ministry wanted it to be transferred to a company for a nominal sum,” he said.

Dompok said MRB then decided to go for a valuation exercise, which was probably conducted by the Valuation and Property Services Department, after which the price was agreed upon.

He also claimed MRB had abided by the government’s decision for the land to be transferred to ATNB and it was surrendered based on “nominal terms”.

“There was no irregularity. It was quite simple actually.

“But what happened after that would be beyond the scope of MRB,” said Dompok.

In 2010, MRB sold a 2,800-acre plot of land in Sungai Buloh to ATNB, a special purpose vehicle of the Finance Ministry for RM1.5 billion.

The following year, ATNB sold 2,330 acres of the land to Kwasa Land Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for RM2.28 billion.

In Putrajaya, the National Audit Department and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed that investigations were underway, following complaints lodged by the MRB’s current office bearers.

Auditor-General Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad said they had carried out an audit on the land, belonging to MRB that was sold to ATNB.

“We are now in the midst of completing the audit report,” she said.

However, Dr Madinah refused to divulge information when asked if the preliminary audit found any discrepancy.

“Once the report is completed, we will share the findings with the board in order to get their feedback on the issues raised,” she said.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki said investigations had started on the alleged loss of RM70 million because the previous board had disregarded the standard operating procedure when approving a project to develop five facilities in Sungai Buloh.

“We have just begun the probe. Let us look into the case first,” he said.


Earlier reports:

Jan 4, Najib Told to Explain RM800M Shortfall, Instead of Making Sarcastic Remarks

Jan 3, Teresa Kok: Rubber Board Under BN Sold Land with RM800M Shortfall