23-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Housewife on paper, Alphards in the drive: Sanusi cracks down on land fraud
ALOR STAR: Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor today issued a stern warning to applicants for state land against making false declarations about their income in order to qualify for the lowest premium rates.
He said that there had been cases involving affluent individuals — particularly contractors — who use their wives' names to apply for land at subsidised rates.
"We've observed a trend where applicants, such as contractors with significant financial means, apply using their wives' names — who are homemakers — despite the husband owning eight Toyota Alphards.
"These individuals are applying under the lowest premium tier, intended for those earning RM1,700 or less per month," he said while responding to a question from Azhar Ibrahim (PN–Ayer Hitam) during the state assembly sitting at Wisma Darul Aman today.
Sanusi reminded applicants to be honest in their declarations, adding that such dishonest practices would result in revenue leakage for the state.
Addressing a question regarding land premium increases, he said that land valuation now fell under the jurisdiction of the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH), rather than the District Land Office.
"Nonetheless, the District Land Office will continue to scrutinise each land application, as the premium charged is based on a tiered system according to income level," he added.
Sanusi said that applicants earning RM1,700 or below per month were charged 10 per cent of the land value assessed by JPPH.
Those earning between RM1,701 and RM5,000 are charged 20 per cent; RM5,001 to RM10,000 are charged 30 per cent; while applicants with incomes exceeding RM10,000 are subject to a 40 per cent rate — or any rate determined by the state authority.
Sanusi also informed the House that the state's revenue had shown steady growth over the past three years, rising from RM596 million in 2022 to RM629 million in 2023, and reaching a record high of RM769 million last year — Kedah's highest ever.
