25 September, IPOH – The Perak government will issue a immediate 99-year lease to more than 3,000 families occupying land with Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL), said Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
He said the properties were in districts bordering the coast, namely Kerian, Larut Matang, Manjung, Hilir Perak, and Bagan Datuk as well as several new villages.
I have discussed this matter with the Perak director of Land and Mines. There are actually many areas with temporary occupation licence status, but I cannot make a decision to issue the lease to areas in river reserves, road reserves and such areas.
This is because as the government responsible for state development, we need to think of the future, we have to prioritise road construction, things which the people need so we cannot give the (99-year) lease to them, he said.
Ahmad Faizal was speaking to reporters at a press conference held after attending a talk titled Keadilan Sosial dan Demokrasi (Social Justice and Democracy) at the Casuarina Hotel here today.
On the programme, Ahmad Faizal said the state government would consider all the views and issues discussed today and take it to a higher level.
I have said before that we are very thankful that the federal and state governments are from the same party, so I will take everything that was discussed today to the top leadership before we make a decision to achieve the objectives of the Perak PH manifesto, he said.
Meanwhile, former Perak state assemblyman Mohd Zainuddin Mohd Yusof who was one of the panel speakers, said the state government could issue the lease if there were special circumstances.
He said this matter was discussed in the National land Council in December 2008.
And the Director of Land and Mines (KPTG) Circular was sent out in January 2009, which gives the example of special circumstances to include land sandwiched by other land with freehold titles, he said.
– BERNAMA