Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is under siege over his purchase of a bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn, Penang, decided to invite the press to the property in question.

During a press conference in Komtar today, Lim was asked when he would be inviting the press to his house for a tour.

He replied, "Let's go now."

Later, at his home on Jalan Pinhorn, Lim escorted the media to his living room, dining hall and kitchen.

The built-up area of the house - which has five rooms - is about 4,000 sq ft.

Lim is facing accusations from Umno that he had bought the bungalow at RM2.8 million below market value.

@malaysiakini 's @susanloone records @cmlimguaneng opening his house to the media and public scrutiny. pic.twitter.com/bD9JjyJAo7

— malaysiakini.com (@malaysiakini) March 20, 2016

The house appeared to be rather narrow when packed with about 20 journalists and photographers.

Lim said this the first time that a CM had opened his house for public scrutiny.

He wondered aloud: "Would the other CM or menteri besar do as I did? I am the only CM who is willing to do so".

Ordinary unit

Later, during a press conference outside the house, Lim said the bungalow is an ordinary unit although he cannot deny that it is situated in a upper middle class area.

"But it is very, very far from (former Selangor menteri besar) Khir Toyo's mansion.

(Khir is currently serving a one year jail sentence for corruption for buying his mansion in Shah Alam from a developer under the market value.)

"Let's see if other CMs or menteri besar would open their houses. Let's see if my house is better than theirs or not.

"Let's be fair here...maybe those who made the allegation against me, their houses are better than mine."

Lim questioned if other heads of state governments would be as transparent as him today, saying the criticism would continue but "let the people be the judge".

Lim said Umno kicked a fuss regarding the price of the house but the RM2.8 million was verbally agreed between him and the seller in 2012.

"There was understanding between the seller and my wife to sell the house for RM2.8 million, and she agreed to hold to the price until we had enough funds to get a loan and make monthly instalments," Lim said.

"When we had enough funds, only then did we purchase the house in July last year," he added.

"I did not buy the house at the time because I was not sure I would be in office (after the 2013 national polls)," Lim said.

The impromptu tour comes amid accusations that he bought the house for below market price, as a kickback for another...

Posted by Malaysiakini on Sunday, March 20, 2016

Accompanying Lim during the tour of the house was his wife Betty Chew.

Lim thanked his wife for allowing the media in, saying "there is nothing extraordinary about our home".

"Although my wife wanted to preserve the family's privacy at least she allowed the media to come in".

Asked how she felt about the house being exposed to public scrutiny, Chew said it had to be done "in the interest of transparency".

Despite seeming 'invasion to privacy, @cmlimguaneng 's wife said media tour of home necessary as part of transparency pic.twitter.com/ZXvw4Incsq

— malaysiakini.com (@malaysiakini) March 20, 2016

"I hope people would be able to see now, if we lived in luxury as alleged," she added.

Shabudin Yahaya (BN-Tasek Gelugor) had also accused Lim of having questionable links with the seller, who was alleged to have shares in the company which won the bid for the purchase of the state government land on Taman Manggis.

Lim denied the claims, saying the seller was not a shareholder nor a director in that company.

He also said the land was sold via an open tender process which was chaired by the state secretary and not him.

Lim's opponents in BN claimed the land was earmarked for housing for the poor. However the state government claimed that it was previously meant for a hawker site.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has opened a file to probe Umno's claims and Lim welcomed the matter, asking that the probe be expedited without fear or favour.

LGE:Open you houses like I did

Malaysiakini's Susan Loone records Lim Guan Eng's challenge to other MB's, CMs and Minister to open their houses to scrutiny like he did.

Posted by Malaysiakini on Saturday, 19 March 2016

LGE explains bungalow purchase

Malaysiakini's Susan Loone records Lim Guan Eng explaining his purchase of the Jalan Pinhorn bungalow, during the CM's media open house today.

Posted by Malaysiakini on Saturday, 19 March 2016