PUTRAJAYA - The federal government has agreed to return 55 lots of land that have been acquired from the Sabah and Sarawak governments in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said it involved 52 lots of land owned by Sarawak and three owned by Sabah.
"Many land lots in Sabah and Sarawak were acquired by the federal government but were not developed and with the return of the land, the two states will at least be able to develop the land areas.
"These land lots are no longer used by the federal government. For safety, health (reasons) and so on, they need to be handed back to the state governments (Sabah and Sarawak)," he told a press conference after chairing the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Technical Committee meeting here today.
He added that the two state governments would pay back to the federal government the amount of compensation that was paid when it took over the land.
Fadillah, who is Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said that so far, Sarawak had wanted a total of 219 lots of land to be returned, while Sabah five. - BERNAMA
He said it involved 52 lots of land owned by Sarawak and three owned by Sabah.
"Many land lots in Sabah and Sarawak were acquired by the federal government but were not developed and with the return of the land, the two states will at least be able to develop the land areas.
"These land lots are no longer used by the federal government. For safety, health (reasons) and so on, they need to be handed back to the state governments (Sabah and Sarawak)," he told a press conference after chairing the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Technical Committee meeting here today.
He added that the two state governments would pay back to the federal government the amount of compensation that was paid when it took over the land.
Fadillah, who is Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said that so far, Sarawak had wanted a total of 219 lots of land to be returned, while Sabah five. - BERNAMA