'S'gor land grab debunks BN promise of change'

Prime Minister and BN head Najib Abdul Razak's silence on the alleged land grab in Selangor by BN component parties is yet another indication that the coalition is incapable of change, the DAP claims.

“Najib claims that the BN is ‘ready to change’ but where is the change when he continues to support corrupt practices of the past when state land was given to BN component parties at dirt cheap prices?” asked DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua(left). 

After the land grab exposeby DAP's Sekinchan assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim, Pua noted that Selangor BN component parties were quick to defend themselves despite the “obvious corruption, abuse of power and conflict of interests involved”. 

At least 24 plots of land were allegedly sold to these parties at RM1 per square foot when the value of the land was an estimated RM20 million

Selangor Umno information chief Abdul Shukor Idrus' defence was supported by Selangor MCA secretary and Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyperson Wong Koon Mun.

“Wong... claimed that there was nothing wrong with alienating land to MCA, by comparing the political party to temples and schools that are given land on the cheap,” Pua said in a statement today. 

“He also insinuated that such a land grab was justified by the party’s efforts to register Chinese Malaysians to obtain citizenship and to fight for their rights.” 

Pua, who is Petaling Jaya Utara MP, said their response showed that the BN “not only does not understand what corruption and abuse of power is” but also that the parties were “completely shameless, even after being caught red- handed by the authorities”. 

“Ordinary Malaysians know that political parties have no right to benefit at the expense of the rakyat when they are in power, or it would be a clear breach of trust.”

‘Same old tune’

However Pua said Najib has continued to appeal to Malaysians to give BN a chance in the polls, claiming that the coalition was “not inflexible” and that it was ready to change. 

The very fact that BN leaders continue to defend their corrupt actions of the past, Pua said, proved that BN was not only “broken” but is unable to “change”.  

“What is worse is, the prime minister himself has refused to comment on this (example of) corrupt practice, much less condemn (the) Selangor (BN) assemblypersons for their complete lack of integrity...
 
“Hence, if the BN gets elected as the state government in Selangor as Najib has predicted, then Malaysians will be assured that state government assets will continue to be raped and pillaged by Umno, MCA, Gerakan and MIC under his leadership, at the expense of the ordinary man.”

At the Barisan 1Malaysia gathering last Saturday, Najib had declared that “change can happen in our country and we have proven that ...we can bring (about) big change(s) with the same government”.

The prime minister also said there was no necessity to ‘fix’ the government, as it was far from being broken.