Kota Kinabalu (The Star/ANN) - At least three privately-owned islands off Sabah are up for sale and the state is quickly moving to ensure that its interests are safeguarded.
Sabah Land and Survey Department director Datuk Osman Jamal said there was little the state could do as the islands were privately owned.
"It is the right of the individuals to sell them," he said after attending a Hari Raya open house here Wednesday.
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Osman said he had, however, discussed the sale of part of Pulau Mengalum and Pulau Montokud both in the west coast and Pulau Pandanan in the east coast with Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman.
"The Chief Minister advised me to look into all possibilities," he said when asked what measures could be taken to ensure Sabah's interests were protected.
"We are looking at various state ordinances," Osman said, adding that as state Collector for Land Revenue, he would need to approve any registration for the transfer of the properties to new owners.
Osman said Pulau Mengalum, some 60km from the city, was once owned by the Sabah Veterinary Department.
However, about half of the island, some 101ha, was handed over to a company in the late 1990s as part of a land swap deal for the firm to construct the state Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry office here.
He said the seven-hectare Pulau Montukud, off the south west Papar district and the four-hectare Pulau Pandanan off Semporna district have been owned by individuals.
The three islands were listed for sale on http://www.privateislandsonline.com/malaysia.htm with the price tag for Pulau Mengalum set at US$18 million while the asking price for
Pulau Montokud and Pulau Pandanan were set at US$11.26 million and US$2 million respectively.
Some people believe Pulau Mengalum holds historical significance for the country as the island's name was believed to have been derived from the Spanish explorer Philip Magellan.
It is said that Magellan had stopped at the island before discovering the Philippines.
source : http://sg.news.yahoo.com/three-privately-owned-islands-off-sabah-sale-053004599.html
