Sabah Land Titles Given To Federal Gov T Had Earlier Approval Fully Paid For

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Sabah Lands and Surveys director Bernard Liew said in 2016, the state government made a decision that all land for federal purposes must be acquired through land application of state land, and would not be granted with land titles. - NSTP/File picKOTA KINABALU: The 177 land titles recently handed over to the federal government were approved before the Sabah government stopped granting the authority in 2016.
Sabah Lands and Surveys director Bernard Liew said in 2016, the state government made a decision that all land for federal purposes must be acquired through land application of state land, and would not be granted with land titles.
However, for the state land handed over on Feb 18 to the federal government, by way of land acquisition, had been fully paid for, he said.
Of the land titles, 90 were for the Education Ministry, 42 for the Health Ministry, 28 for the Transport Ministry and 17 others.
"The total acreage of the land is 519.444 ha or 1,283.57 acres. Most of the land is already (the site of) public facilities.
"The land titles granted to the federal government agencies are especially meant for the building of public facilities such as schools, hospitals, police stations, post offices, where they are meant to provide services to the public," he said in a statement.
In a separate statement, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai described Sepanggar member of parliament Datuk Azis Jamman's allegation that Sabah gave away land to the central government as akin to denying Sabahans the right to federal-funded amenities.
He said Azis' misguided contention is a desperate attack by Warisan Sabah (Warisan) to discredit the present state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
"The Chief Minister has explained that it has been done according to procedures and that it is for the benefit of the Sabah people, whereby the land is for our schools, hospitals, police stations and other public amenities." - NST

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