The Defence Ministry has denied an allegation by former international trade and industry minister Rafidah Aziz that there exists a company comprising three individuals controlling the implementation of its projects using the land swap method.

In a statement today, the ministry said that Rafidah's claim of federal land it utilised being transferred to the three-person company was also untrue.

“The appointment of the company to implement development projects under the Defence Ministry, including the land swap privatisation method is in accordance with the procedures established under the Public Private Partnership Unit (Ukas),” it said.

It added that each development project was implemented by different companies and had nothing to do with one another.

According to the statement, Defence Ministry land involved in swaps were implemented after obtaining approval of the ‘end user’, such as the Army, the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

“Consideration of campsites takes into account the strategic location, camp security, suitability of operational tasks and the safety of the residents. The camps need to be relocated in appropriate areas,” it said.

Last Saturday, Rafidah through an open letter uploaded on her Facebook account, alleged that caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who was defence minister in 2008, had recommended the privatisation of over 40,000ha of Defence Ministry/ Armed Forces land to a company owned by three individuals, which was approved and implemented.

- Bernama