GEORGE TOWN, March 24 — Penang Wanita Umno has urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to immediately investigate the statement of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who said he did not know the current value of the house he bought.    

State Wanita Umno head Datuk Norliza Abdul Rahim said as a person who has the background of an accountant and was involved in business, it was impossible Lim did not know the matter.    

“This is his trick...there is much evidence showing his claim was not true.  “We have checked that in a property transfer, we have to pay stamp duty and the assessment is based on the rate of the current price, therefore it is not true he is not aware of the value of the house,” she told reporters before filing a report at MACC here today.   

Norliza said the MACC should investigate immediately who paid the stamp duty and if it was proven Lim himself paid it, therefore the chief minister’s claim of not knowing the value of the house was not true.   

Meanwhile, Penang Umno Youth today also lodged another report with MACC alleging shortcomings in the sale and purchase of land in Taman Manggis near here.     

“We will hand over new documents on the approval of the sale of land in Taman Manggis to MACC for investigation,” said state Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim before making the report.     

He said the Umno Youth would be making another report on the two Sale and Purchase (S&P) agreements relating to the land allocated for hardcore poor housing project (PPRT), acquired by Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.      

Yesterday, Abdul Rahman claimed two sets of documents stated how the land now owned by a private company Kuala Lumpur International Dental Centre (KLIDC) attempted to sell it to a third party at RM20 million.    

Meanwhile in Alor Setar, Parti Gerakan said it was absurd that Guan Eng was not aware of the real value of the house he bought as well as PPRT project in Taman Manggis.  

Its deputy president Datuk Dr Cheah Soon Hai said Lim should make a statutory declaration on the matter to clear his name.  ”I believe all records on the matter are also with the Exco responsible,” he told a press conference here today.  

At Dewan Rakyat last Thursday, Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (BN-Tasek Gelugor) who is also chairman of the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) wanted the Valuation and Property Services Department to carry out an evaluation on the RM2.8 million property in Jalan Pinhorn bought by Lim who is also the Bagan MP when the current price is RM3 million.  

Shabudin also wanted the MACC to probe allegations that the sale of several lots of land in Penang was meant for a hardcode poor housing project.  Meanwhile Cheah who is also Kedah Gerakan chairman said Lim should take the advice to go on leave pending investigations into the purchase of RM2.8 million house. — Bernama