Zahid’s proposal akin to seizure to assets: LDP
Published on: Friday, March 15, 2024
Ong said such policy would cause immense disruption to businesses, plantations, factories and the economy as a whole.
Kota Kinabalu: Liberal Democratic Party Vice President David Ong said the proposed Bumiputera Land Corporation as it is divisive and unconstitutional and should be rejected.
“The proposal by Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to establish BLC that would forcibly acquire privately-owned land from non-bumiputera owners.
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“The proposal by Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, is unfair and raises serious constitutional concerns over discrimination and violating property rights,” he said.
The BLC proposal to compulsorily acquire 20pc of agricultural land over 50 acres and industrial land over 20 acres upon lease renewal or extension is discriminatory, legally questionable, and economically destructive,” he said.
If implemented, it means someone who has bought 50 acres and spent his lifetime developing it into an oil palm plantation, will find 10 acres snatched away from him despite his legitimate right to renew the lease term upon expiry,’ said Ong.
He said such policy would cause immense disruption to businesses, plantations, factories and the economy as a whole.
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Landowners and businesses have legally renewed leases for decades with an expectation of continuity.
“Forcibly seizing productive assets would undermine investor confidence and the security of property rights,” he said.
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He said such a scheme violates constitutional principles of equality and equal protection for all citizens by selectively redistributing private property based solely on racial grounds.
He said government policies should be fair and apply equally to all races.
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