PUTRAJAYA: According to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's investigation, many people have got rich overnight while some even become big landowners under the cooperation of officials from different districts in the land approval process.

Such an approach in which "you are there to help me and I'm here to help you" has been constantly used as even if they have been transferred, the same mode of operation will still be applicable.

Some assistant district officers, local officers, village chiefs, and even low-level officers, drafters and surveyors, are also involved in conspiracy to gain profit from identifying favourable lands, exploiting minerals and lumbering.

The endless land fraud cases has caused the constant decline of the image of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and the Lands and Mines Department. Therefore, in the report presented in 2008, MACC has revealed nine major drawbacks in the department.

The report revealed that officers have been helping each other. Village chiefs, local officers and enterprises conspire to gain profit through favourable land applications. They even allow stand-stealing activities to go on.

The report also noted that some technicians are involved in using false affidavit to undertake construction jobs. (Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)