A COALITION of civil society groups affiliated to Pakatan Harapan today urged the authorities to immediately investigate the Defence Ministry’s land swap deals that were made at a loss amounting to more than RM500 million.

Coalition leader Asri Talib said a large sum of money had been lost which could have been used to improve the welfare of armed forces personnel.

“The RM500 million could have also been used to take care of the welfare of army veterans,” he said today, after lodging a report at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters. 

“This is a huge amount and can be used for many things to assist them, especially for the development of the armed forces,” he said

Asri said his coalition, comprising 31 groups, wants the authorities to find out who the culprits are and where the funds went. 

The fraud was discovered by the Special Investigations Committee established by the PH federal government to look into its procurements and administrative procedures

The committee discovered that the government lost more than RM500 million in 16 land swap projects, involving 1,183ha of land owned by the ministry, valued at RM4.756 billion and whose project costs amounted to RM4.886 billion, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu revealed yesterday.

Malaysia Armed Forces coalition president Major (rtd) Razali Zakaria, who was present today, said it was a clear case of corruption.

“There are elements of political interference and abuse of power in the land swap deals. 

“This must be investigated to get to the core of the problem and to uncover those involved because it involves the people’s money,” he said.

Former minister Rafidah Aziz raised the case last year alleging that armed forces land  had been swapped with a private company.

The former international trade and industry minister said Najib Razak, who was defence minister in 2008, had recommended the privatisation of over 40,000ha of ministry or Armed Forces land to a company owned by three individuals, which was approved and implemented.

She said the proposal, presented to the government in late 2007, was approved and executed. – February 20, 2019.