KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today rejected Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan’s allegation that the firm which won the tender for land in Taman Manggis, which is at the centre of a corruption controversy, has resold the property indirectly.
Lim accused the urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister of erring in his allegation today, during which the latter revealed two documents showing that Kuala Lumpur International Dental Centre (KLIDC) indirectly resold the land to a third party for about RM70.6 million by selling the shares in KLIDC.
Lim added that he checked with Companies Commission Malaysia (SSM) and found that the land in Taman Manggis Penang is still owned by the KLIDC, which has the same shareholders as when it bid for the land in 2010.
“Today morning he repeated the allegations that he made before this that KLIDC has been sold to a another company. This is like trying fry spoilt rice because he is repeating the allegation which I have already answered,” he told reporters during a press conference at the Dewan Rakyat.
“The documents clearly state the land grant is still owned by KLIDC. This eradicates the allegations that this land has been transferred to another company.”
Lim also said the state government has not received any applications by the owner to sell the land.
He then reiterated that KLIDC won the tender for the land in Taman Manggis by being the highest bidder.
Lim then denied any knowledge of an agreement for the transfer of the land, which Abdul Rahman mentioned earlier.
Although he accused the minister of attempting to tarnish him, Lim said he will not take legal action until there is clarity in the matter.
Earlier today, Abdul Rahman Rahman said the land in Taman Manggis had been resold by the winner of the tender, and that he will submit documents to support his claim to the police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
The land is at a centre of a corruption controversy surrounding Lim, after rivals accused him of buying a home in Penang allegedly for below market price from his previous landlord, whom they also claim was linked to KLIDC.
