(Nov 17): DAP's Sitiawan assemblyman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham is standing by his earlier allegation that more than 4,000ha of land was approved for Perak Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc) despite the state agency's denial.

Ngeh said, based on answers obtained from Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir in the previous state assembly, up until last year, some 10,500 acres (4,249ha) of mining land were approved to MB Inc through the Perak Land and Mines Department.

He said Zambry also stated that MB Inc had developed a mining blueprint that introduced the Tin Valley development concept to start in phases in Gerik, Temenggor and Pengkalan Hulu.

"So who is lying now? The menteri besar or MB Inc chief executive?" Ngeh told reporters on the sidelines of the 13th Perak state assembly sitting in Ipoh today.

He added that he also maintained his earlier demand towards Zambry, to reveal the terms and agreements of projects entered into by MB Inc to date.

"I want to remind Datuk Aminudin Hashim that MB Inc funds belong to the public. I am waiting for his legal action, but please utilise personal funds for legal fees because his legal threat against me is baseless.

"My press conference last week was aimed at the menteri besar and I need him to answer as he is responsible to reply for issues raised by state assemblymen," he said.

Zambry, however, clarified that there was a difference between land approved for mining exploration and the amount of land awarded to MB Inc.

"MB Inc has already clarified that it only owns some 890ha. Ngeh is probably confused with the amount of land he owns in Kelantan," said Zambry, referring to Ngeh's investment in Upayapadu Plantations Sdn Bhd, which was allegedly linked to logging activities that contributed to flash floods Kelantan in 2012.

While Ngeh has admitted his share in Upayapadu, he has denied that he or the company were responsible for any logging activities in the country.

Zambry went on to say that associating MB Inc with 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and describing it as a scandal was an attempt to create a negative perception.

"Whether (the allegation is) true or not is a separate issue." he said. – The Malaysian Insider