Too many questions over Lim Guan Eng's bungalow deal

The Penang MCA has questioned if the sale of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s house was genuinely on the basis of willing buyer-willing seller.

“This transaction raises too many doubts,” its deputy chairman Tan Teik Cheng said.

He said Guan Eng should clarify why the seller was willing to let go of the property at RM2.8mil.

Tan claimed that the seller had carried out renovations after buying the property in 2008 and that the property was reportedly worth RM6.5mil now with the soaring house prices in Penang.

He said Guan Eng paid about RM275 per sq ft for the 10,161 sq ft plot on which the double-storey bungalow sits.

Tan also said DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang should allow his son to be investigated rather than just only suggesting that Guan Eng open his house for a media inspection.

Meanwhile, Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya not only turned down an invitation for a one-on-one meeting with Guan Eng yesterday but called the invitation a cheap political gimmick which did not reflect the latter’s maturity as a chief minister.

“Why must the Bagan MP challenge me to a face-to-face debate? Or does he wish to have a coffee break with me?

“Sorry, I am not interested to entertain such an invitation.

“I am only interested to work with the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) for investigations into the house and the Taman Manggis land sale,” Shabudin told a brief press conference at his service centre in Tasek Gelugor.

He read from a prepared statement and did not take questions.

Shabudin also said he had never asked Guan Eng for a personal explanation when he raised the matter during the Parliament sitting on Thursday but was merely only raising the facts and questions for three parties to answer and explain.

He said the three parties were the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry; the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department who represented the MACC and the Property Evaluations and Development Department in the Finance Ministry.

“I feel Guan Eng is trying to divert the main focus from the issue raised in Parliament.

“The issue should not be lured out of Parliament and turned into a personal issue,” Shabudin said, adding that he was ready to be questioned by the MACC to disclose documents relevant to the case for investigation.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan also took to Twitter to slam Guan Eng’s house tour.

“Showing your house to reporters doesn’t mean the scandal is suddenly justifiable. It’s just gimmick. Just like when LGE boastfully says he is cleaner than clean because he declares his assets,” tweeted Abdul Rahman from his @mpkotabelud account.

Lim fired back, calling upon Abdul Rahman to declare his assets publicly.

“Failure is akin 2 a person killing his parents pleading 4mercy bcos he is an orphan,” he tweeted from his @cmlimguaneng account.

The twitter war continued with Rahman posting: “What’s the point of declaring asset publicly once every five years, and then buying a house wayyyyyyy below market price?”