MB: Tight rein will be kept on files at land offices

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SHAH ALAM: Land scandals may be a thing of the past with the implementation of a policy on controlling the movement of files in the state’s land offices.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the state government has directed all district offices to keep a tight rein on the movement of files.

At the same time, computerisation methods are being improved to ensure that irregularities initiated through runners would be curbed.

“In the past, developers and even politicians used runners and those who are close to land evaluators to inform them of land that was available due to some default. Now, with our new methods being enforced, we would purge these culprits from the organisation,” he said.

He added that the moves would not wipe out such irresponsible characters but they would find it difficult to secure favours or even get the land officers to find them vacant land for a fee.

“Now, with our first-in first-out method to be introduced we will be able to ensure that no one short-circuits the process to obtain special preferences.

“With this, corruption would also be curbed and the land office would not come under fire for various allegations,” he said.

Earlier Khalid, who attended the Land Management Seminar at the Annex Building here, said even if a Pakatan government assemblyman wants to push through a file, it will not happen unless the situation warrants it due to “disaster or something that cannot be avoided”.

”One thing, I am making things right for the state. With this seminar we have professionals like architects, developers, town planners, construction lawyers and even the draughtsman to understand the do’s and don’ts in dealing with land,” he said.

“It is a fair game, I don’t want developers to lose money but I don’t want problems given to the state,” Khalid said.

”We are also looking at the idea of splitting the land office where one is a land administrator while the other oversees the district similar to what is practised in Johor.

Meanwhile, Khalid added that temporary occupational licence holders who have occupied state land for more than 20 to 30 years would be given the opportunity to have rightful ownership.

“We will alienate the land to the residents and they would have to only pay the land premium for a lease-hold title,” he said.