KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 25): Sacked former Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal lauded the query raised by his ex-colleague, former second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, on transactions by 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

At Parliament's lobby today, Mohd Shafie told pressmen that it is "disheartening" for the Malaysian government to sell its land to foreigners while only requiring the purchaser to pay the full sum of consideration years later.

"Those issues have been raised in the Cabinet before, what really surprised me is that there is only a few land [left] belonging to the government in KL: one is in Pudu and the other one is in Sungai Besi. We are talking about big land in terms of size," he said.

"And what really [is] disheartening to hear is that it was sold to China investors, 60% stake, and yet they only have to pay by 2022. Imagine that any Tom, Dick and Harry can make business out of it. They are the majority stakeholder of the land. It is bankable. They can borrow money," he added.

Mohd Shafie, who is also the member of Parliament (MP) for Semporna, Sabah, said he had raised these same issues in Cabinet during his tenure as Minister as well, but some of them went unanswered.

"He (Ahmad Husni) was one of the men who knows a lot about 1MDB. We questioned him too in Cabinet, I remember; but some of the questions I asked were not answered. But I am so glad that he came out with that sort of statement. I hope there will be further clarification," he said.

Yesterday, Ahmad Husni raised questions in Parliament on the necessity of setting up 1MDB and some of its more controversial dealings.

Ahmad Husni, who is the MP for Tambun, said the questions needed to be asked because he was concerned that allegations of financial wrongdoings linked to the state-owned investment fund would negatively impact the global perception of Malaysia.