Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin cannot avoid accountability in the escalating Johor real estate corruption scandal, said state Amanah deputy chairperson Dzulkefly Ahmad. 

This is especially after police reportedy seized dozens of documents believed stolen from the Johor Land and Minerals Department (PTG) vault in a case involving the sale of land worth more than RM15 million. 

"The PTG is an important agency under the MB's jurisdiction in his capacity as exco member in charge of land and minerals (hasil bumi).

"The agency has also been involved in other corruption scandals before this and another has yet again slipped out of the MB's sights.

"In other words, the Johor MB has failed to monitor the agencies in his watch to the extent that important documents like land grants and ownership documents kept in the vault can be smuggled out," Dzulkefly said in a statement. 

He said that Khaled's "standard reply" that he will leave this to the police to investigate is "escapism". 

"The Johor MB shows no remorse over the real estate corruption scandal in Johor, reflective of his low credibility and accountability as a head of government," he said.

Land sold to Singaporean, Indonesian buyers 

Johor police have detained three suspects, including a former Johor PTG administrative assistant in the case. 

They are allegedly involved in a syndicate where a Johor PTG insider identifies vacant land in the city and changes the land status, so it can be sold at a profit. 

Several plots of land have been sold to Indonesian and Singaporean buyers for more than RM15 million, mStar reported yesterday.

The two other suspects are land brokers, and are believed to have a record of involvement in the underworld. 

All three are detained under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca). 

Earlier, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission arrested Johor exco in charge of housing Abd Latif Bandi, his son, his special officer and several others in another property scandal. 

Some 150 luxury brand handbags and several luxury vehicles have been seized in the investigations. 

The suspects are probed for allegedly receiving kickbacks for converting land status to lift the requirement that this land be sold to bumiputera buyers only. 

This means property built on this land can fetch a higher price. 

Khaled had said while he "sympathised" with Abd Latif, the state government will co-operate with investigations.