This is a reply to the letter Selling at inflated price is an offence. The Consumer Protection Act that was referred to only deal with goods and services. It is not within the contemplation of the Act to deal with the sale of land and property. You need not go far - look at the Application and the Definition Section of the Act and also the definition of 'goods' and 'services'.

The shoplots in Adam Yong Abdullah's case are commercial property, I would assume that before the Malacca Development Board - which is under the Entrepreneurial Development and Cooperatives Ministry - purchased them, they must have a valuation report before them in the file.

The valuation report must be from some 'hot shot' reputable licenced valuation company, that would have done the valuation base on a comparative method, that the property around the area would have cost around what was purchased. The valuation report is just an opinion with a basis.

After the deal is sealed, brokerage is paid. In this case, the amount paid is far too generous for Adam Yong Abdullah for his role. Adam Yong Abdullah could have just take RM100 and donate the rest away. Again, I am asking where is the chicanery.

Editor's note: Adam Yong Abdullah has alleged that the valuers were among those handsomely paid off.