Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has taken up the challenge issued by state BN leaders, who had demanded him to come clean on his private residence in Georgetown.

Following a string of attacks by BN that public funds are being wasted to finance his residential home in Jalan Pinhorn, Lim today revealed the requested tenancy agreement.

NONE The allegations also appeared in an anti-DAP propaganda DVD, which was circulated in Penang recently.

Lim, who is also DAP's secretary-general, unveiled the documents through his political secretary Ng Wei Aik in Penang.

According to Ng, who is Komtar assemblyperson, Lim rented the house in 2009 when his official residence in Jalan Macalister - dubbed Seri Teratai - was in a "very bad condition and infested with white ants".

The cost to repair the CM's residence at that time was estimated at RM500,000 and could be even higher today, said Ng.

He added that the cost has made Lim reconsider his earlier decision to repair Seri Teratai.

"It seems that Lim is the only CM or Menteri Besar in Malaysia who is asked to explain his decision to rent a house to stay," said Ng at a press conference today.

"BN leaders do not need to explain even though they buy houses that look like palaces, for example, the one that is owned by former Selangor MB Mohd Khir Toyo," he added.

"It is as if it is wrong for a CM from Pakatan Rakyat to rent a house," Ng quipped.

Details of landlady unknown

In showing the six-paged contract, Ng has blacked out the name of the landlady, saying that it was a "private agreement" and her name should not be publicised without the consent of the person.

State BN leaders have questioned Lim over his relationship with the landlady, but Ng said the details could be obtained from the Land Office.

satees denied mic allegation 240709 ng weik aik Ng ( right ) said Lim pays a monthly rental of RM5,000 - RM1,000 more than Lim's housing allowance as CM - as the unit comes fully furnished although it does not have a swimming pool.

He added that Lim's housing allowance was similar to that of former chief minister Koh Tsu Koon, which is RM4,000 per month.

When asked about the RM1.5 million renovation done to the house as alleged by Gerakan, Ng said he was not aware of the matter.

"This is related to the landlady, we do not know. It was done before Lim rented the house, which is to be used only for private purposes," he added.

Ng said that Lim's tenancy agreement has expired and the landlady is still considering whether to extend it in light of the constant attacks by BN.

MACC report on Lim's home

Ng noted that Gerakan had lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission three years ago on the matter but nothing has happened.

"They even claimed that Lim owned the house, which is not true. Today we unveil the agreement signed between him and the landlady to prove that all the allegations are wrong," said Ng, who is state DAP Youth chief.

NONE Ng was responding to Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng ( left ) who challenge Lim to reveal the tenancy contract as the former had questioned his father - former Penang municipal councillor Tan Gim Hwa - about Silverton, a luxurious condominium along Jalan Gurney.

"I am doubtful whether Gim Hwa will keep his promise to reveal Silverton’s sales-and-purchase agreement, who is the same developer of Midlands park, which was built on a land sold away cheaply by the previous BN administration," he alleged.

Ng said if the BN's argument that the CM's housing allowance used for rental must be publicly explained, then he urged state BN chief Teng Chang Yeow to explain how he could afford to rent a similar luxurious unit along the same road with only his state assemblyman pension.

Teng, who was a former state executive councillor and Padang Kota assemblyperson, had retired when he lost his seat to state DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow in 2008.