Local govt has say in Seri Iskandar airport land development, says Perak MB

IPOH: The local authority has a say on any planning approval or development on a piece of land that was proposed for an international airport in Seri Iskandar, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad (pic).

The Perak Mentri Besar said in this case, it was under the purview of the Perak Tengah District Council.

“There are rules and regulations set by the local councils, which must be done legally right.

“So for this matter, the power lies within the council president, and we will leave it to him to decide what is right,” he told a press conference after launching the Perak Disabled Sports Development policy at his office on Wednesday (April 6).

Saarani was asked to comment on PAC committee member Chong Zhemin urging the Mentri Besar to immediately suspend the planning approval and stop any sort of development on the said land.

On the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)probing the sale of land, Saarani said he would leave it to them to investigate.

“It is their responsibility to investigate, and we will fully cooperate where needed.

“The state government is transparent, and all required information on the matter will be provided accordingly,” he added.

On Tuesday (April 5), four state executive council members in the previous Pakatan Harapan government, called on the MACC to investigate the sale of the 188ha plot of land belonging to the Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) to a private company.

They claimed that the matter was never discussed at the state executive council or PNKP board of directors meetings during the Pakatan administration.

On Thursday (March 31), Saarani said the land was sold when Pakatan was in power because during the Barisan Nasional administration, the land was reserved for PKNP for the purpose of building the airport.

The matter came to light after Aulong assemblyman Nga Kor Ming, during the Perak State Assembly sitting on March 29, claimed that the land had been sold without the permission of the state government.