INTERVIEW | Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu said today that the state government's proposal to grant permanent land titles was not exclusively for Chinese new villages.

"Our promise to grant permanent land titles – which many refer to as '999 years' – are also for Felda settlers, Malay Kampung Tersusun and Indian settlements," he told Malaysiakini in an interview.

Faial was responding to the racialisation of the issue and accusations that the Pakatan Harapan-led Perak government was 'selling out' to the Chinese.

Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia had played up the issue as a clash between Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming and Faizal, reporting that DAP was adamant on getting the menteri besar to accede to permanent land titles for Chinese villagers.

Nga had criticised the report, claiming that it was an attempt to provoke and racialise the issue.

Regardless, Faizal said he was committed to fulfilling the Harapan government's promise to villagers of various communities.

"I have stated many times that we are committed to fulfilling our promises in the (state) manifesto," he said.

Faizal said the issue of land titles is fraught with legal concerns, and therefore he wanted to first seek feedback from all stakeholders.

"There are those who say the power to do this lies with the state government, while there are others who argue that it is subject to the National Land Council and National Land Code.

"The two different perspectives have to be discussed and debated. I will then take these views to the National Land Council, which is chaired by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and I am confident we can arrive at the correct decision," he said.

Noting the sensitivity of the issue, Faizal urged state Harapan leaders to tread carefully when discussing the permanent land titles.

The Tambun MP said he himself had visited a new village to explain the issue to residents.

"It is all good, they didn't chase me with a parang," he joked.

Faizal also noted there are others who are also not keen on the permanent land titles, due to the high land premium it will incur.

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