The DAP has urged Selangor BN to channel all profits from the 24 parcels of land in the alleged land-grab scandal back to the state government, if they were indeed done in the public's interest.

NONE The state could then spend the funds on the people's welfare of and upgrade infrastructure, said the party's publicity chief Tony Pua ( left ) in a statement last night.

He was responding to former Kota Raja Umno chief Amzah Umar's statement yesterday, who told Malaysiakini that an apartment project on one plot of the land was in the public interest, for it provides housing.

Amzah added that there is also a seven percent discount for bumiputera, and a 12 percent discount for Umno members.

Kota Raja Umno and Shah Alam City Council jointly purchased the seven acres in 2007 for a nominal fee of RM1,000 in land premiums.

The market value at the time was estimated to be at least RM700,000 according to Sri Muda assemblyperson Shuhaimi Shafiei.

Pua said Amzah's response parallels a quote from novelist George Orwell's classic book Animal Farm that says, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others".

"It is obvious that Umno is unable to differentiate between the interests of Umno the party, its leaders and members, and that of the public.

"They have shown no remorse over the fact that such actions are no different from stealing the wealth of the people to profit Umno and the BN," he said.

He added that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who has been silent on the issue, must explain and take responsibility for it.

"Otherwise, his call for ‘transformation' is nothing but empty rhetoric to hoodwink Malaysians," he said.