KOTA BARU: More than RM23 million of land premium arrears have yet to be paid by three agencies under the Federal Government.
Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud told the State Assembly sitting today that the three agencies are Felcra Berhad (RM14.7 million), Felda (RM1.5 million), and Kesedar (RM7.1 million).
He added that the state government has already taken appropriate steps, such as issuing Notice 5A to these agencies.
"Besides that, we also hold negotiations with the agencies involved. Any approval that is not accompanied by payment to Notice 5A will then expire," he said.
The Meranti assemblyman was replying to Wan Rohimi Wan Daud (Pas-Melor) on the first day of the sitting.
Nassuruddin, however, said that for areas subject to the Group Settlement Areas (GSA) Act 1960, the termination of the area allows the government to dispose of the land to other applicants, but it must comply with the requirements of the Act itself.
"For Kelantan, only Felda develops land using the GSA Act, while Felcra and Kesedar do not use the GSA Act.
"The lands in the GSA area that must be paid a premium by the relevant agencies are divided into two categories: the settlement area (Section 6) and the farm area (Section 5).
"The settlement area is divided into two: the residential settlement area of the settlers and the area used by the agency for the purpose of administrative facilities.
"The application of the grantor who still failed to clear the premium is Felda Chiku 6 with an area of 859.88 hectares, and Chiku 1 with an area of 2,309.94 hectares.
"For the lands used for the purpose of the agency's administrative facilities, if the premium is not paid, the ownership approval will expire," he added.