Something is not quite right when a purportedly cash-flush Petronas station gets away with paying a measly RM14 in annual quit rent - and all because it is situated on agricultural land.

DAP national e-campaign director Jeff Ooi revealed details today at a press conference at party headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

He said the petrol station-cum-convenience store in Paya Jaras, Sungai Buloh, is among the top 10 revenue earners for Petronas Dagangan Bhd (PDB) - the national petroleum company's domestic marketing arm.

A recent search at the Selangor Land and Mines Department showed that the petrol station is sitting on land categorised as 'agricultural' - as a result, it is only required to pay RM14 annually in quit rent, said Ooi.

PDB leased the land for a 30-year period from July 1, 1984. The petrol station has been operating for more than 23 years, but was closed last month for 'renovations'.

"DAP urges the (department) to explain why it has allowed Petronas Dagangan to operate a commercial petrol station on agricultural land assessed at an annual quit rent of RM14 for the last 23 years without any conversion or rectification of this error," said Ooi.

"DAP also demands that Petronas Dagangan declares categorically that there are no other similar irregularities among the petrol stations it operates - claimed (to exceed) 500 - throughout the country."

Other DAP officers present included Tony Pua, the economic advisor to the secretary-general and Selangor legal bureau chief Lim Lip Eng.

Late registration

Ooi, who distributed copies of the land title to reporters, noted that the document shows that, while the plot of land was leased to PDB in 1984, the lease was only registered with the Land and Mines Department on Feb 9, 1985.

"This gives rise to the question as to whether the petrol station was constructed earlier without official approval while procedural application was only made at the point of business operation," said Ooi, who directed his comments at the local authorities in charge of the relevant building permits.

"As a deterrent... DAP demands that all parties involved in the Sungai Buloh Petronas petrol station be disciplined and punished in accordance (with) prevailing law."

Family members of the joint landowners, Mansor Abu Bakar and his mother Zaharah Abdullah, were also at the press conference.

The family has initiated action in the Shah Alam High Court, seeking a declaration that the lease is null and void.

They also want the court to nullify registration of the lease by the Land and Mines Department; for the land grant - currently held by the PDB - to be surrendered to the family; and an injunction ordering PDB to stop all operations at the Paya Jaras petrol station.

Based on the statement of claims, an agent of Mansor's late father, Abu Bakar Abib Khan, had exceeded his power of attorney by entering into the lease agreement with PDB.

It also stated that the agent had wrongfully entered into a dealership agreement with PDB and became the main beneficiary.

When contacted, a PDB official denied that the Paya Jaras petrol station is among the top 10 revenue earners.

"We will review this and other claims and respond in due course," said Md Arif Mahmood, the senior general manager of the retail business division.