Another fantastic act from UMNO----- 40 million land scandal

Again , a corrupted UMNO politician has presented another lovely presents for penangite, this time a RM40 million liability for Penang state government in a land deal scam according to the Edge.

Again, with an excuse of "negligence", they escaped without penalised............

Another sick Bolehland story (that will not be published in Utusan Malaysia) .............Again and again

Hilmi admits negligence in land deal 29-07-2008

By Regina William

PENANG: A former deputy chief minister admitted negligence and took responsibility for a land deal which resulted in the state government being liable to pay RM40 million in a legal suit.
Datuk Seri Hilmi Yahaya (Teluk Bahang-BN), who was the deputy chief minister from 1999 to 2004, said the incident happened when he was the land committee chairman.
Hilmi made the revelation when Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was elaborating on several land deals which had caused the state government around RM124 million in losses due to negligence of the previous Barisan Nasional state government.
In his winding up speech, Lim cited land acquisition cases which resulted in RM84 million in losses while the “Tan Hak Ju” case, which would cost the state government RM40 million, involving the giving of a 10.6 acre site to an individual by the then state government for quarry purposes but the deal was later cancelled.
Lim said before the case was brought to court, the individual had agreed to a compensation of RM1.8 million but the state government refused to pay.
The court then ordered the state government to pay RM40 million, which was reduced to RM29 million after appeal but at 8% annual interest, Lim said it would eventually cost the state government RM40 million.
Lim then criticised former deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Rashid Abdullah who has refused to clarify some of the land deals despite being asked repeatedly by the present state government.
At this juncture, Hilmi admitted being the one handling the case.
“This case was handled by me when I was handling the land portfolio and I admit there was negligence which resulted in the case being taken to court and compensation being paid.
“I feel responsible for what happened as the matter was not closely scrutinised when it came up to the committee. Even I visited the site and it was approved after a visit to the site and sadly, a mistake happened,” he added.
Lim, who thanked Hilmi for coming out in the open, also asked Hilmi to come forward with proof to help the state government.
“I am surprised how the approval was given despite the technical committee objecting to it,” Lim added.
Hilmi then stood up to say that the approval was given for the 10.6 acres, out of 100 acres, for quarry operations, so when the area was levelled it could later be developed.
“As far as I remember, only the Department of Environment objected to it but the final decision was made at the state executive committee level,” Hilmi added.
Lim then said the entire executive council committee must be held responsible for the decision made.