Khalid: No development on Bukit Raja land allowed

Opposition-run Selangor will not approve any development on the Bukit Raja Industrial region land bought by Boustead Holdings Berhad, from a firm owned by state Wanita Umno chief Raja Ropiaah Raja Abdullah.

“If there is any development and business dealing takes place on the land involved, it will be considered to be done without the knowledge of the state and the state government will not recognise it,” said Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in a statement today.

Khalid (right) said the state will only allow the construction of army training camps on the site, as was intended when the property was ceded by the state to the Federal Land Commissioner.

“We will not approve any form of development on the land except for the building of army training camps as was originally established, and even that can only be done after receiving the approval of the Selangor exco and the Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES),” said Khalid.

The decision was made by MTES which is chaired by the MB, following explanations given by officers from the state Land and Minerals Office and three district officers yesterday.

The meeting was also informed that the land which was specifically for building an army camp is still under the name of the Federal Land Commissioner and has not yet been transferred to any individual or company.

The property became embroiled in controversy when carpet trader Deepak Jaikishin, whose company Astacanggih Sdn Bhd provided the bond for the land acquisition, accused Raja Ropiaah’s Awan Megah Sdn Bhd, who was originally awarded the land by the government to build an army camp, of cheating him and sued the company.

Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT)-controlled Boustead announced that it will buy the land for RM160 million after announcing that it had bought over Deepak’s Astacanggih via a wholly-owned subsidiary for RM30 million.

Some have accused the GLC and the army trust funds invested in it of being used by political interests to buy out Deepak and rescue Raja Ropiaah from legal wrangles.

This is especially since Deepak was in the midst of revealing the alleged involvement of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his family in a purported cover-up of evidence and testimonies relating to the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Deepak made it clear that his legal troubles with Raja Ropiaah was one of the reason that he was making his allegedly damning disclosures.