THE government should investigate a land swap deal in Plentong and Tebrau in Johor that caused a bigger loss than all the 16 land deals recently exposed by the Defence Ministry combined, Hishammuddin Hussein said today.

The former defence minister said the Plentong and Tebrau land swap incurred a loss of RM1.48 billion. 

The swap involving 154.65ha of land was approved by the cabinet in 1996, when Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister the first time, but has since been cancelled, Hishammuddin said in a statement today.

“This is far more serious…” he said.

“The ministry should focus on how to get the money back.”

Hishammuddin said when he was defence minister, he led the ministry in filing a writ of summons and statement of claim against the company involved at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in November 2015.

He said when the company failed to obey the consent judgment in the case in February 2017, and the ministry had to file a second suit.

“I urge the government to follow up and reclaim the RM1.48 billion from this failed project.

“This is the biggest loss in the report by the governance, procurement and finance investigation committee,” he said.

Hishammuddin’s statement today, however, did not address the report’s naming of one of his former aides said to have used his influence to get an army camp built in Paloh, a state seat within the Sembrong federal constituency that Hishammuddin holds, to shore up votes for him in the 14th general election.

The camp in Paloh was among the 16 land swap deals  involving 1,183ha of ministry-owned land valued at RM4.7 billion with  project costs of RM4.9 billion.

The ministry has lodged 16 reports with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency over the last two days.

Hishammuddin said he welcomed the special audit report and as he had nothing to hide.

He said he had also asked his representative to file an MACC report, adding that information will be shared with the commission to assist investigations.

“As Dr Mahathir has said, nobody is above the law. The former ministers and PM must take responsibility for their actions if they are found guilty.”

Hishammuddin also called for all documents and evidence concerning the deals and the special audit report to be handed over to MACC to enable the anti-graft agency to thoroughly probe the case.

“This issue should not be put on trial by the media. Perceptions will cover up reality, so it is better to let the authorities do their jobs.”

He said while he was minister, he placed the interests of the armed forces as his priority.

“If land swaps don’t benefit the army, I hope the new leadership come up with a more effective and cost-saving alternative that benefits all parties, instead of pointing fingers at others.” May 16, 2018.