A Johor Umno lawmaker has rebutted former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's claim that the state is giving away freehold land to foreigners in the Forest City development.

Sekijang MP Anuar Manap said the freehold status is only for strata titles and not the land.

"Yes it is a freehold title but it's not for the land, but for the strata. Not an inch of of Johor land is given out as freehold in this case," he told Malaysiakini.