Land Premium: Azmin Doesn't Understand Federal Constitution - Noh




SHAH ALAM, July 13 (Bernama) -- Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali has been described as purposely politicising the Federal Constitution and acting as a 'hero' pertaining to two plots of land earmarked for the construction of fire and rescue stations in Setia Alam and Bukit Rahman Putra, near here.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar said although Mohamed Azmin referred to Article 83 (2) of the Federal Constitution in charging the land premium, he had not fully read and understood the terms and conditions set out in the constitution because he wanted to charge higher rates.

"In the provision (in the constitution) there is a mention of the requirement to impose premium charges on state-owned land earmarked for federal purposes, and it can not be determined according to current market value.

"On the contrary, premium charges on both plots that have been earmarked for the development of the stations should be done according to the original value of both lands when it was transferred by the developer to the state government more than 10 years ago,"he told reporters here today.

In fact, Noh said the Selangor government did not incur RM22.2 million losses as stated by Mohamed Azmin as both lots were handed over by the developer to the state government for free, to be reserved for federal purposes.

"Hence, the 75 per cent discount offered by the state government should apply to land premium at the original value, and not the current market value,"said Noh.

He said Mohamed Azmin's action proved that opposition leaders were more keen to censor and politicise issues that resulted them being regarded as 'defenders' when in reality what they did was only to mislead the people.

Previously, Mohamed Azmin said in a statement that the market price assessment for the lot in Setia Alam was valued at RM19.8 million or RM1,700 per square metre while the lot in Bukit Rahman Putra was worth RM9.7 million or RM1,200 per square metre.

-- BERNAMA