Deepak says poorer from LTAT land deal, Ropiaah made more

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 — Senator Raja Datuk Ropiaah Abdullah got the lion’s share of the LTAT land deal through her company Awan Megah Sdn Bhd, which was contracted to build a defence facility, carpet dealer Deepak Jaikishan said today.

A unit of Boustead Holdings Bhd, owned by investment fund Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT), bought an 80 per cent stake in Deepak’s company Astacanggih Sdn Bhd for RM30 million as well as a RM130 million piece of land from Awan Megah last week.

It is not known what happened to the facility that was to be built by Raja Ropiaah’s company in exchange for the land.

“I think it’s unfair, it’s my land. I paid for it, I get pittance and she gets the lion’s share,” Deepak told a press conference here today.

“She got the appreciation (value) but I got nothing. I only got what I put in,” he said.

Deepak also noted that PKR’s plan to stop the deal by asking the Selangor government to sit on the land title transfer is ironic.

“If they had issued the land title then, I would’ve sold the land already by now,” he said.

Last Saturday, Rafizi alleged that a Boustead unit acquisition of Deepak’s company Astacanggih Sdn Bhd was an attempt to silence the businessman.

“This is worse than a bailout ... this is outright bribery to practically pay off and silence (Deepak),” Rafizi had told a press conference.

The PKR strategy director also accused Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of abusing his power by spending public money through government investment fund Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT), which owns Boustead, to acquire the loss-making property development company.

The politician added that if the recent allegations made by Deepak over the murder of Mongolian model Altantuyaa Shaariibuu had not been considered serious, it was unlikely that LTAT would have proceeded with the buyout.

Deepak recently also exposed an alleged deal between Awan Megah Sdn Bhd, the company owned by Selangor Wanita Umno chief Senator Datuk Raja Ropiaah Abdullah, and the federal government for a parcel of land involved in the acquisition by Boustead.

On Sunday, the Selangor government announced that it would scrutinise and possibly stop Putrajaya’s plans to purchase Awan Megah’s piece of land.

In a statement, Selangor Mentri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s political secretary Faekah Husin said the state has ordered the Selangor Land and Mines Department to examine the deal for any possible breach of legal procedures.

“We will not hesitate to stop them, be it a title transfer or pending transaction.

“The state government view these transactions seriously as it involves public money from the retirement fund of servicemen,” she said in the statement.