Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email The current Perak government is proposing changes in order to solve land problems in Perak. Remember the issue of land titles for New Villages? Perak’s current MB mentioned that the populist by PR government did not get much response. Any comments?
The Perak Government has submitted new proposals to the National Land Council (NLC) in hopes of solving land problems faced by Perak folk.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the suggestions not only dealt with converting leasehold titles to freehold in new and planned villages but encompassed a more holistic approach to solving the people’s land problems.
“We have submitted our proposals to the NLC and they will decide at their meeting.
“However, it is important to note that we do not want to focus specifically on one particular area or group.
“Land matters in Perak are faced by all and there are many inherent, long-running issues that need to be addressed,” he said after opening the Beruas Umno division delegates’ conference at Dewan Inderawati here yesterday.
Dr Zambry said there were numerous areas where farmers had toiled on the land for decades but had yet to receive land grants or even temporary occupational licences (TOLs).
“In places like Kuala Sapeteng, there are people living in river reserves, which is not appropriate.
“In these kinds of situations, TOLs cannot be issued and we have to think about relocation but I do not want to impose anything on the residents if it goes against their wishes and cause them further hardship,” he said.
Dr Zambry said a more comprehensive approach was needed to solve the state’s land woes, unlike the Pakatan Rakyat’s style of introducing populist policies that would not benefit everyone in the long run.
“It is my dream for each Perak family to have land or at least a home to call their own.
“And I have always stressed that when it comes to land matters, there will be no discrimination amongst different groups or races. Everyone is equal,” he said.
On the move to allow houseowners in the state’s 349 planned and 134 new villages to convert their leasehold titles to freehold at an 80% discount on the land premium, Dr Zambry said the response had been very poor.
“Not many can afford it. There are those who can and those who cannot. This is why I said there needs to be a better approach in handling the matter,” he said.
State exco member Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said only 2,401 houseowners in the 55,233 in new villages had applied for the conversion.
In planned villages, only 463 houseowners out of the 73,730 had done so.
