Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan today urged Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali to explain the handing back of an RM1.18 billion worth of disputed land in Ijok to two companies before the matter is heard in the Federal Court.

The two companies are LBCN Development Sdn Bhd and Mujur Zaman Sdn Bhd. People's Declaration movement leader and former Umno man Khairuddin Abu Hassan holds a high position in one of the companies.

Rahman, who is BN strategic communications director, said the handing of the disputed land back to the two companies raised questions since both the High Court and the Court of Appeal decisions ruled that the land belonged to the Selangor government.

"What is Azmin's justification in handing the land back to the two companies when the court decisions had sided Khalid (then menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim) and the Selangor government?

"Why did Azmin not wait until the case is heard at the Federal Court since the Selangor government had won the case in two courts before this?" Rahman, who is minister in the Prime Minister's Department, told a press conference in Cyberjaya today.

In 2008, when Pakatan Rakyat won Selangor, Khalid (photo), on behalf of the state government, took over ownership of the land from the two companies citing violations of terms and conditions of their agreement with the Selangor government.

After the verdicts in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, in Oct 2013 and Feb 2014 respectively, the two companies then took the matter to the Federal Court, this after Azmin took over the state leadership.

In Sept 2015, a deal was signed between the two companies and another private company to sell the land for RM1.88 billion, citing approval from the state government.

In May 2016, Azmin filed a settlement agreement at the apex court, saying that the Selangor government and the two companies had agreed to withdraw their case. The land was then handed to the two companies.

According to Selangorkini, Azmin had then instructed the state government to compensate the 980 settlers on the land with RM180,000 in cash, and houses worth RM250,000, each.

However, Rahman questioned where the remaining RM758.6 million was, from the sale of the land.

"The amount of compensation announced by Azmin was only RM421.4 million. Where's the remaining RM758.6 million?" asked the Kota Belud MP.