Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has denied abusing his powers to award land to several private companies without the approval of the state executive council.

In a front-page report in the Chinese newspaper, Oriental Daily , he claimed that Taman Templer state assemblyperson Ahmad Bahari Abdul Rahman, who made the accusation, had done it for his personal interest.

In an exclusive interview with malaysiakini on Wednesday, Ahamd Bahari ( photo ) alleged that Mohd Khir had approved the awarding of 89ha belonging to state subsidiary Shah Alam Properties (SAP) Sdn Bhd without the knowledge of the council.

The MB was said to have used his position as the chairperson of both the Selangor Economic Action Committee (MTES) and SAP to give the approval.

Among those awarded the land are Zimmun Sdn Bhd, Wardah Berkat Sdn Bhd and Untung Utama Sdn Bhd (20ha each), Alaf Delima Sdn Bhd (12ha) and Maksak Selangor (6.4ha).

Privately owned

In the Oriental Daily report, Mohd Khir clarified that the abovementioned lands were now privately-owned.

"The state government has no reason to retrieve the private lands. If we do so then the state government has to compensate them," he said.

He said the state government has followed all the procedures in any circumstances and it is not easy for developers to get land for development projects from the privatised MTES.

The MB said MTES will not simply approve the application from developers to buy land for development.

He added that even if the MTES approved a project, the developer concerned has to follow the instructions from the state government.

"The instructions include for the developers to build mosques, schools, low-cost houses and shop lots on the developed land

"At the moment, Selangor has only very limited land. Therefore the state government has to make sure the remaining land will be put to optimum usage," he said in the report.

Mohd Khir said he has not breached the procedure by approving the land.

The report also quoted the MB as saying that he would not take action against any quarter over the allegation as he has more important things to do and his priority is to serve the people.