Why did Azmin Ali drop the Ijok land deal case favouring Selangor?

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Azmin Ali's Decision to Drop Federal Court Case on Ijok Land Deal Questioned

Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications (BNSC) has raised questions regarding Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali's decision to withdraw the Federal Court case on May 17, 2016, concerning a significant land deal in Ijok. This action was taken despite previous court rulings that favoured the state government, leading BNSC to question the justification for surrendering land valued at RM1.18 billion. The case involved 2,198.4 acres of land that Azmin had agreed to transfer to developers Mujur Zaman Sdn Bhd and LBCN Development Sdn Bhd, whose contract had been previously revoked by former Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim due to non-payment of land premiums.
Previous Favourable Rulings Overlooked

The decision to drop the Federal Court case has drawn scrutiny because both the High Court and the Court of Appeals had previously ruled in favour of Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's decision to reclaim the land. BNSC questioned why Azmin Ali did not proceed with the Federal Court hearing, given these earlier victories, suggesting that the state government had a strong legal standing to retain control of the land. The previous administration under Khalid Ibrahim had seized the land under the National Land Code, citing the developers' failure to pay land premiums, secure the necessary status change from agricultural to residential, and pay the associated premium for this change.
Financial Implications of the Dropped Case

BNSC director Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan highlighted the substantial financial implications of Azmin Ali's decision. He questioned the justification for handing over land worth RM1.18 billion to the developers when the state government had already secured favourable rulings. Abdul Rahman proposed that if Azmin Ali's primary concern was to resolve compensation for the 980 settlers, a direct sale of the land to the public could have generated the RM1.18 billion, which could then have been used for compensation. However, the compensation disbursed to the settlers amounted to RM421.4 million, comprising RM180,000 in cash and a house valued at RM250,000 per settler, leaving a significant RM758.6 million unaccounted for in BNSC's view.
Inquiry into External Influence

Further questioning by BNSC focused on potential external influences on Azmin Ali's decision. Abdul Rahman specifically inquired whether Datuk Seri Khairudin Abu Hasan, a former director of both Mujur Zaman and LBCN Development, played a role in Azmin Ali's choice to withdraw the case. The background of the land deal dates back to 1998 when settlers agreed to allow companies, including Mujur Zaman and LBCN, to develop the land and provide compensation. However, these companies reportedly failed to fulfil their obligations for a decade, leading to the land seizure by the state government under Khalid Ibrahim. Mujur Zaman and LBCN Development subsequently sued the state government, losing their cases at both the High Court in October 2013 and the Court of Appeals in February 2014.

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Why did Azmin Ali drop the Ijok land deal case favouring Selangor?

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