PARLIAMENT There have been manipulation in the power given to three top administrators in Sarawak state government in granting land approvals, said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

"The Section 13(1) and 38 of Sarawak Land Code have granted absolute power to the minister in making decision whether to approve any land application in the state," read the MACC report 2014 which was tabled in Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

The chief minister, who is also the minister of planning and resources management I, the minister of planning and resources management II, as well as the deputy chief minister, who is also in charge of modernisation of agriculture and rural development were granted such power.

"The MACC's investigation had found that the manipulation of given power existed. The manipulation happened when an application by the family of a minister (with the power to grant land) was approved by another minister that also had a power to approve land application," read the report.

"The absolute power without control will lead to wide discretional power which can be manipulated for personal and family gains by the minister," said the report.

In its effort on prevention of corruption, the MACC had opened 136 examination and discussion paper, which meant to identify the weaknesses of the system and procedure in the government agencies or private entity, which may open to corruption, abuse of status and misappropriation.

The graft buster has included a total of 231 suggestions in its report to improve the system.

It suggested the state government to amend the Section 13(1) of the Sarawak Land Code, to shift the power to approve land to an executive council, so it can make collective decisionS.

"Such policies and methods had been implemented in the states of the Peninsula Malaysia," said MACC in the report.

It also proposed the state government to set up a policy to prohibit the family of administrative members or minister from applying for state land.

MACC had probed the former chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud ( photo ) on allegation over timber few years ago. Its chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed refused to divulge more on the status of the investigation.

It was reported that Sarawak DAP believes that land grabbing under Chief Minister Adenan Satem’s administration is 'worse' than those done under the previous administration.

Adenan took over as chief minister from Taib on February 28, 2014.

"In previous dubious land deals, at least the recipients of the land would have completed the projects before they received the state land as payment in kind.

"In the case of 267.15 acres of land at MJC Batu Kawah, which was alienated to Standard Parade Development Sdn Bhd (SPD), the company will receive the land even before it completes or incurs substantial cost inconstructing the projects," Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen had claimed.

Such arrangement, he said, was a ‘double rip-off’ on the state government and the people of Sarawak.

Chong, who is the Bandar Kuching MP, pointed out that the state land alienated to SPD at 20 percent of market value incurred a loss of RM400 million potential revenue for the state.

Even the 20 percent amount was not paid before the lands were alienated to SPD, he added.

"By the looks of it, it seems that the land-grabbing is worse under Adenan’s administration.

"Though Adenan has previously forbidden his direct family members from applying for state land, but it would be the same if he continues to allow BN cronies to get state land at only a fraction of the market price.

"This dubious land deal has thrown doubts onto Adenan’s statements about clean and good governance and the integrity of his whole administration," Chong had said.