My Longkang

The above topic will be the hottest topic of discussion in Sarawak today. It has been a bone of contention between the people and the state government. It would not be too imaginative for me to say that this land premium issue has prior to this alienated the state government from a segment of the citizens.

There used to be a joke. *Have you signed the petition requesting the state government to give more clarification on the land premium issue? We better do it soon before the state government sets a premium for petitions to the state government.*

The opposition exploited this issue to the full in the previous state election and it found that the issue touched a chord deep in the voters’ hearts. This was something the prosperous Barisan National leaders never understood or pretended not to understand because they too had no clear picture of what was going on at the top.

The opposition realized they could talk for hours about human rights and other issues and the ever polite, never rowdy state voters would nod or smile or even clap hands. If they spoke on the land lease issue, there would be silence. A clear signal resentment was seething not too far below the surface. This issue rewarded the opposition handsomely.

Under the new policy announced, specifics are given. However in my opinion although it is more specific and you can apply for 60 years or 99 years( read: pay 30% on top of basic land premium ), the government can still take away your land at any time it wants if it deems your land is required for development.

In the mean time the state coffers are expected to overflow with the hard earned money of the people. However Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Dato Sri Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the government will lose RM10 million with these new rates. To soften the bitter medicine, payments can be made in installments.A new development: land owners can also choose to renew their lease at any time before their lease expires.

West Malaysian will find this hard to understand but there are house owners who sold off their houses which are nearing the end of their land lease at dirt cheap prices because nobody wanted to buy them as there was an air of officialdom and uncertainty over the issue of renewal.

Town land, premium for 60 years’ lease is a flat 25 per cent for residential and commercial and agriculture use categorised as not exceeding RM10,000 per acre. Previously the rate was between 25 and 50 per cent.

Suburban land, a 35-per cent rate is imposed for commercial, industrial and office/institution land and 25 per cent for recreational, residential and agriculture land categorised as not exceeding RM5,000 per acre.

Country land is fixed at 25 per cent for all the categories of land use except for agriculture which is fixed at RM200 per acre.

However, the minister said special consideration will be given to deserving cases.