KUALA LUMPUR: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been thrust into the spotlight over the sale of a plot of state land which was originally slated for low-cost housing projects.
Questions have also been raised over his purchase of a multi-million ringgit piece of property in George Town.
Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (BN – Tasek Gelugor) in the Dewan Rakyat today, urged for Lim to be investigated over the issue, saying that Lim could be “directly or indirectly involved” in the sale of the land.
The land, he claimed, was supposed to be meant for low-cost homes which would be rented out at RM100 a month for the poor.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Shabudin, who said he learnt of the development from sources, claimed that the land was sold by tender and is now scheduled to hold a private hospital and a hotel.
The Barisan Nasional MP allegedly that the sale of the plot of land was linked to that of a residential property bought by Lim in George Town on Oct 15 last year.
Shabudin said this was the same piece of property that Lim was renting for seven years at RM5,000 a month from an individual named Pang Lee Kun.
"When he was renting the house, the property was valued at RM2.5 million.
"However, when he bought it including renovations, the house was sold to him seven years later at only RM2.8 million."
The MP claimed that the sale was conducted by a company owned by someone linked to the house bought by Lim.
Shabudin also asked if the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry was aware of the issue, and whether it had discussed with the Penang government to replace the land that was sold off.
He also urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to conduct an investigation into the matter.
Throughout his speech, Shabudin kept being interrupted by Opposition members of Parliament who questioned the relevancy of his claims.
Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said in allowing the speech, said the question was directed to the Housing and Local Government Minister as he was answerable for the said low-cost public housing scheme.
"Even though Bagan (Lim) is not here, he will have the chance to explain during the winding-up speech by the minister," he said in reply to uproar by the opposition members.
Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad said DAP lawmakers made a ruckus in attempts to prevent Shabudin from presenting his speech.
"These are the same people who complain about freedom of speech and democracy but when we (BN MPs) try to bring up something, they make noise," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby, today.
Shahrir said he has advised Shabudin to lodge a police report on this matter.