Guan Eng denies Penang surpluses due to land sales

GEORGE TOWN : The Penang government has refuted opposition claims that land sale profits was reason for the state to record surpluses.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng dismissed the claim and stressed the state was not dependent on land sale alone for its revenue.

He said the surpluses was due to the state’s initiative in collecting revenues from other sources but did not elaborate further.

In comparison, he reiterated the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government had sold 1,481ha of land from the 1990s to 2008 which was 36 times higher than the present government.

He said Pakatan Harapan state government has sold 43ha of land for RM1.1 billion.

Lim, meanwhile, also called Gerakan to show proof that Peel Avenue land sales was unilaterally done by him alone.

Meanwhile, in BUKIT MERTAJAM, Penang Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation exco Chow Kon Yeow said the state Planning Department would collaborate with the Seberang Perai Municipal Council, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Yokohama City University to restore the old market of Bukit Mertajam.

Chow said up till now, the restoring and rejuvenating of the market was still in the research stage.

“It is not just about developing the old market but it is also important to retain the authentic look of the town.”

He was speaking to reporters after a one-hour meeting with the local community at Jit Sin Independent School here on Saturday.