Land sale: Guan Eng must not hide facts from public

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is alleged to be hiding the truth from the public on the sale of land in the state, in order to get higher returns.
Penang Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said Lim continues to spin the issue by stating that the Penang DAP state government only sold 42.94 ha of land from 2008 until now.
"The chief minister claimed the Penang DAP government received a higher return for selling land compared to the returns obtained by the Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) government. He continues to hide the facts from the people.
"The Penang BN government (before 2008) only gave right to land reclamation to Seri Tanjong Pinang (STP) Reclamation Project in Tanjung Tokong, Jelutong Expressway to IJM Land Berhad, and the Bagan Ajam coast to Rayston Consortium Sdn Bnd.
"Lim has made the wrong comparison as selling existing land for development and giving right to reclaim the sea are not the same. The reclamation project which was approved by the previous BN government does not provide returns in the form of cash only.
"The financial proceeds to the state government for the STP reclamation project in STP in Tanjong Tokong was not only RM1/sq foot as payment for the right for the land reclamation (totaling RM42.7 million) as claimed," he said in a statement today.
He reportedly said the Penang BN state government collected RM1.0568 billion from the sale of 1482 ha of land, while the Penang DAP government made more, RM1.1102 billion, after selling 42.94 ha of land.
Lim was also reported to have denied the claims of certain quarters who said his administration had to sell land and trade state assets to cover the state government's increasing administrative expenditure.
Zainal Abidin, who is also Penang Federal Action Council chairman, said according to the concession agreement, the Penang state government would obtain a ready reclaimed land measuring 44.52 ha.
"Indeed, it is this 44.52 ha land which is used by the Penang state government to pay the contractor of the Undersea Tunnel Project and three main roads worth RM6.3 billion. As such, the returns from the STP project is not only RM42.7 million ... it is in excess of RM6.3 billion."
He said the STP reclamation project and the Jelutong Expressway involved the construction of low cost houses, Medium Low Cost Houses and a highway.
"The sea reclamation in Bagan Ajam will provide land for the expansion of the Northern Butterworth Container Terminal." — Bernama