Selangor executive councillor Yaakob Sapari has been taken to task for claiming that the construction of an 88.41 ha irrigation pond at the Sungai Karang Forest Reserve in Parit 5, Sungai Haji Dorani, Sabak Bernam did not get the state government's approval.      

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Noh Omar said as chairman of the state agriculture modernisation, natural resource management and entrepreneurial development, Yaakob should have known that the menteri besar had officially approved the application to gazette the land for the project.      

"He (Yaakob) should have gone down to the ground to check the matter, and not make such statement to the extent that he was not aware of the approval given to Northwest IADA (Integrated Agricultural Development Area).      

"Yaakob has to apologise to the farmers for claiming that no approval was given to the pond project," Noh told reporters after opening the special annual conference of Selangor Perkasa, a Malay right group in Shah Alam today.      

Northwest AIDA director Muhammad Nasir Kushari clarified that he had obtained a letter of approval dated Jan 29, 2011 from the Selangor Land and Mines Office informing him that the project was approved by the menteri besar.      

Yaakob was also reported as saying that the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry and Northwest IADA had not seek an approval from the Forestry Department for the project.      

- Bernama