Prove ‘one man’ made decisions, says Guan Eng
GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has challenged those who claimed that land deals in the state were decided by “one man” to show proof.
He refuted allegations that under the DAP leadership, the sale of state-owned land was decided solely by the chief minister via Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI).
“These are lies... all land deal decisions are made collectively by the state executive council members. CMI does not belong to me, it belongs to the Penang government,“he said.
On Tuesday, state Gerakan Youth chief Jason Loo said the state government must be transparent and reveal why the controversial Peel Avenue land was transferred to CMI prior to being sold to a private hospital for its proposed expansion project.
Meanwhile, speaking to newsmen at the state Gerakan headquarters yesterday, Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Lee Boon Ten demanded that Lim answer how, when and why the Peel Avenue land was alienated to CMI; who negotiated and decided on the sale to the private hospital, and why the people were not informed about it.
Lee also called on the state government to divulge details of CMI’s operations, including assets (especially land) that had been alienated to CMI.
In another development, Penang People’s Association chairman Datuk Huan Cheng Guan said he planned to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the sale of the Peel Avenue land.
Huan said he had given Lim a week to make public the sale and purchase agreement document on the said transaction but the latter had failed to respond.
“We are left with no choice but to report the matter to MACC, and I will work closely with the graft busters,” he said, adding he would be lodging the report today.
Huan reiterated that the 2.56ha plot sold for RM156 million on a 99-year lease was below market rate.
“It is best to leave it to MACC to investigate further,” he said.