Latest news with #PTG
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
RMMJ: Five housing developers blacklisted, 10 under watch
ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor state government has taken firm action by blacklisting five housing developers who failed to comply with the Johor Affordable Housing Scheme (RMMJ), while placing ten others under close scrutiny. State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman, Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor, said punitive measures include the registration of land caveats against developers who fail to meet RMMJ obligations, construct fewer affordable units than required, or miss deadlines set by the Evaluation, Planning and Design Committee (PDRC). 'The Johor State Housing Development Corporation (PKPJ), together with the Land and Mines Office (PTG) and local authorities (PBT), has blocked new applications from developers that breach these requirements. 'Caveats have also been placed on land owned by offending developers, including subsidiaries and related companies with common board members,' he said. Under the Johor Affordable Housing Policy 2023, projects on land of five acres or more must allocate 40 per cent of units for affordable housing, while developments on plots between three and five acres must set aside at least 20 per cent. 'This policy is not a guideline but a mandatory condition for all planning applications submitted to local authorities. Any application that fails to comply will be rejected outright,' Mohd Jafni said during the state legislative assembly sitting at Kota Iskandar today, in response to a question from Selamat Takim (BN-Sungai Balang) on compliance and enforcement. Mohd Jafni, who is also the Bukit Permai assemblyman, added that PKPJ is working closely with PTG to block approvals for land title returns (SBKS) if developers have not started their RMMJ projects as promised. Similarly, local authorities are suspending planning permission (KM) for non-compliant developers, who are required to submit revised development plans for review by the PDRC and technical verification by PKPJ. Since PDRC Johor was established in 2022, 29 meetings have been held, resulting in commitments from 115 developers to build 18,568 affordable housing units across 151 projects statewide. These projects are being monitored by 16 local authorities, reflecting a comprehensive and coordinated approach to achieving Johor's goal of becoming an inclusive and prosperous state 'I want to stress that the implementation of the RMMJ agenda is a collective responsibility involving PKPJ, PTG, PLANMalaysia, PBTs, and all stakeholders in the housing ecosystem. 'To date, no housing project has been approved without fulfilling the affordable housing quota. Any violations are met with strict action, as seen in other districts. 'I assure the people that the state government will continue strengthening monitoring and enforcement efforts to meet our target of delivering 100,000 affordable homes by 2030 with integrity and determination. This goal can only be achieved through collective commitment,' he added.
Daily Express
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Johor land department ordered to stop asking for ‘surat akuan' from lawyers
Published on: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 13, 2025 By: K Parkaran, FMT Reporters Text Size: The Johor Lands and Mines Department was held to have gone against the National Land Code in requiring declarations from lawyers and their clients. (Website pic) JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor Lands and Mines Department has been ordered to stop requiring lawyers and their clients to give undertakings on the authenticity or truth of documents submitted for processing. In a decision last month, the Court of Appeal declared as null and void any documents signed, obtained, or received prior to the date of the court's order. The court held that the practice, which had been in place since 2022, went against the National Land Code. The Johor Lands and Mines Department (PTG) the registrar of titles, and state land administrators were ordered to immediately cease the practice of asking for the undertakings. Lawyers had been required since 2022 to submit a declaration (surat akuan) and their clients to submit an undertaking (akuan pemohon) attesting to the authenticity of documents submitted for processing. They were also required to give an undertaking that they would not subject the PTG to any legal action. The court's orders came when it allowed an appeal by the Bar Council against a high court decision in August 2023 to dismiss the Bar's application for a judicial review of the department's actions. In its appeal, the Bar said it was illogical and unreasonable for the department to ask a person to vouch for information and documents supplied by a different party or parties about which the applicant has no knowledge. Signing the 'surat akuan' also meant a person dealing with PTG must relinquish their future legal rights. The Bar argued that the High Court judge failed to appreciate that the forfeiture of rights requirement was 'irrational, unreasonable, self-serving, against public policy and is likely to produce absurd outcomes of penalising victims of fraud'. The appeal was heard by Justices Lee Swee Seng, Choo Kah Sing and Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh. Yeo Yang Poh, Fadhil Ihsan and Syahmi Nawawi represented the Bar Council while assistant state legal advisor Adzam Zainal Abidin appeared for the state land authorities. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MBI never issued RM500,000 compound over REE theft, court hears
ALOR STAR: The High Court was informed today that the letter of a RM500,000 compound issued to the Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) on Oct 4, 2022, had been revoked as it was never issued to the state-owned company. Former state Land and Mines Office (PTG) director Datuk Mohd Fauzi Mustaffa said the letter was disposed of after a man admitted that he was responsible for the theft of rare earth elements (REE) minerals in Kampung Chong, Sik, a day later. "Yes, the letter did exist on Oct 4, 2022. I signed the letter. However, it was revoked on the same day. "The letter was never sent to MBI after further investigation by the enforcement team revealed that a suspect had admitted to the theft. "A new letter of compound was subsequently issued on Oct 5, 2022, to Ho Chung Ming," he informed the court. Fauzi, who is currently the Deputy State Secretary, was testifying as a witness in Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's defamation suit against Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Sanusi filed the writ of summons and statement of claim through Faizi and Associates at the Alor Star High Court on Aug 3, 2023. He alleged that Saifuddin, also Pakatan Harapan secretary-general, defamed him by claiming he misused RM1.6 billion in Malaysian Road Record Information System (MARRIS) funds and accusing him, as the MBI chairman, of stealing REE minerals Kampung Chong, Sik. According to the statement of claim, Saifuddin allegedly made defamatory statements during a speech at the Unity Tour Programme and the launch of the Kedah Unity Machinery event at Guar Chempedak public field in Yan on July 15, 2023, at 8.30pm. The speech was part of a political campaign by PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the lead-up to the state elections in August. Yesterday, Sanusi, who is also the Jeneri assemblyman, testified to the court that allegations made against him had significantly damaged his reputation and political standing. In today's hearing, lawyer Navpreet Singh, who led Saifuddin's defence team, applied for the letter to be tendered as an exhibit. However, the plaintiff's lead lawyer, Yusfarizal Yussof objected on grounds that the Oct 4 letter was never issued to MBI. "I must object as the witness testimony clearly stated that the letter was never issued, and there is no record in the PTG Office. I believe a non-existent document should not be accepted as an exhibit in the court," he said. Judge Datuk Dr John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan Lee subsequently ruled out the defence's application. "My consideration on this is that the witness had stressed several times that the letter was revoked, and it does not exist in the office (PTG) record. "Therefore, I don't see any reason why it should be marked as evident. It makes it even more complicated. I only allow it to remain as an ID (Identified Document) in the defence's submission," he said. The court set May 11 for the trial to resume.
New Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Pahang to lower land premium for new Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital facilities
KUANTAN: The Pahang government has pledged to lower the land premium to enable the federal government to accelerate the construction of new facilities for the expansion of Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) to meet growing demand. The hospital, which opened in 1983, faces overcrowding issues amid a rising population. The rise in patient numbers is also attributed to increasing medical costs in private hospitals. HTAA is the largest healthcare facility in the state. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said it has been standard practice for the Pahang government to consider an appropriate land premium when there are development projects planned by the federal government involving public needs. "The matter (reduce land premium for HTAA) was raised during a recent meeting with the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) and the federal government was told to send in an appeal. PTG (Pahang Land and Mines Office) has received the appeal and the matter will be brought to the attention of the state executive council meeting. "I give assurance that the state government will consider reducing the premium for HTAA's development," he said in response to a question from appointed assemblyman Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly at the state assembly sitting today. Fadzli had asked if the state government was prepared to lower the land premium charge, which costs hundreds of millions, to a nominal fee to speed up the development at HTAA. Replying to a supplementary question by Fadzli on measures to reduce congestion at HTAA, Wan Rosdy said the federal government had set aside RM500,000 to expand the hospital to accommodate another 446 new patient beds. "The project has been agreed by the federal government and the technical requirements are being looked into," he said.
The Star
23-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
MACC to probe Land and Minerals Dept
KUALA LUMPUR: Graft busters will investigate land encroachment in Pahang, especially in Raub, by focusing on the management aspect of the Land and Minerals Department (PTG). Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki (pic) said the investigation into land encroachment started in 2021. 'Given the new issues that have emerged, we will resume the investigation. We will investigate how the land encroachment was allowed to occur. 'We will investigate aspects of governance practised by PTG,' he told reporters after attending the graduation ceremony for participants of the Certified Integrity Officer Programme yesterday. Pahang Sultan Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has often spoken out against land encroachment. The Ruler said yesterday that action must be taken against those who encroached on state land. 'Don't allow anyone to encroach on Pahang's land. It is time we take firm action against them (intruders). 'Protect this land, the land of Pahang, to the best of your ability,' said Sultan Abdullah during a Hari Raya celebration in Jerantut, according to the Kesultanan Pahang Facebook page. Previously, an enforcement operation at a durian farm in Raub led to farmers voicing their dissatisfaction over the destruction of their crops. The Pahang government has denied violating a court order when it felled around 200 Musang King durian trees during the enforcement operation in Sungai Klau, Raub on April 8. On another case, Azam said the MACC is expected to submit the investigation paper on Ops Sky to the deputy public prosecutor next week. He said the investigation, which was focused on corruption and money laundering involving a financial consulting firm and officials from multiple financial institutions, had already been completed. 'I hope the DPP will expedite making a decision on further action to be taken on the case if there are no queries (on the investigation paper),' he said. In January, Ops Sky led to the arrest of 12 people and the seizure of 4,000 documents, with 98 bank accounts frozen, amounting to over RM17mil.
