KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Lands and Surveys Department says that the 177 land titles handed over recently for federal purposes were those approved before 2016, with most already developed with schools, hospitals and other public facilities.
Its director Bernard Liew Chau Min said this following criticism by Sabah Parti Warisan Wira chief Datuk Azis Jamman, who slammed the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government and questioned the move to give away huge swaths of land.
Liew also clarified that the total acreage of lands involved were 519.44ha and not 1,933ha as reported on Thursday (Feb 18). Land titles handed over on Feb 18 were lands for federal purposes acquired by way of the land acquisition process and lands that were approved before 2016 and premiums were fully paid.