There was no stopping Pending DAP state representative Violet Yong from asking Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud why a company allegedly linked to his cousin has been getting alienated state land at below market price.

Despite being told to stop by speaker Asfia Awang Nassar during the debate on the motion of thanks for the head of state in the legislative assembly yesterday, Yong remained steadfast on the issue.

“Distribution of state resources, including state lands, should be transparent and more people-orientated through public tender system rather than based on political favours or cronyism.

Naim Cendera poser

“It should be condemned if our state resources have been used by crony companies to generate private profits and drain the money away from the state,” she said.

sarawak nomination day 090506 violet yong “Our people can never be rich if our state administration governance does not subscribe to transparency, integrity, equal opportunity and social economic justice,” she said further.

Yong homed in housing developer and Class A contractor Naim Cendera that said to belong to Taib’s cousins - Hameed Sepawi and Hasmi Hasnan.

According to her, Naim Cendera has been given 260 acres of state land in Kuching Division and 101 acres in the nearby Samarahan Division based on general answers she had obtained between 2001 and 2007.

She noted that the total land premium paid to the government for the combined 361 acres was only RM21 million which is grossly under priced.

“This would only work out to about RM65,000 per acre in Kuching and RM39,000 per acre in Samarahan which is truly underpriced.

“This can be compared with the market price of land deals in Kuching City area that is between RM1 million and RM2.5 million per acre,” she said.

“Why are Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd and its subsidiaries so special that they can get such special prices for land in Sarawak?” she quizzed.

'Strong man of Borneo'

Based on current market factors, Yong said the value of Naim Cendera’s 260 acre land in Kuching could easily be RM130 million but the company only paid RM17 million for the alienation.

“With these land deals, how could Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd not make tens of millions or even billions of ringgit and live up to its billing as the ‘strong man of Borneo?”

taib mahmud and pbb party in sarawak

“With these figures, our state has lost out at least RM113 million if the alienation of state lands was done through an open tender system where everyone can have a fair right to bid for the same,” she revealed.

Yong then indicated that if so, listed company Naim Cendera has made at least RM113 million in profit through alienation process.

“The RM113 million does not even include the profits made from development and through sales of any properties erected on the land,” she asserted.

The DAP politician then called for a new policy to be introduced for alienated state lands to be contracted through an open tender system so that the government could generate more revenue from the highest price.

She stressed that the state government should be more transparent and accountable so that all Sarawakians can enjoy the natural resources of the state through revenue generated from open tenders.