Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng tries to divert the people's attention on the Taman Manggis land issue by delving on land sale made by the previous state government, said state BN chief Teng Chang Yeow.

NONE Teng ( left ) said Lim tried to draw the attention of the people on land deals in Tanjung Tokong (1980s) and Batu Kawan (2003), and land reclamation for the construction of the Jelutong Expressway (now Tun Dr Lim Cheong Eu Expressway) (1996) by the previous state government.

"I am not the right person to talk about the land deals made by the previous state government as it was done before my time (as state executive councillor).

"The questions were never raised at the State Assembly by the opposition before (when BN was at the helm). I cannot answer the questions raised as I do not have the details," he told reporters at a hari raya open house hosted by the state BN in Tasek Gelugor today.

It was reported that the Taman Manggis land had been sold to Kuala Lumpur International Dental Centre, which won the tender at RM232psf or RM11mil, for the construction of a private medical specialist centre. 

The previous state government had earmarked the 0.45ha land for the construction of an additional block of affordable housing with 272 units after 320 units under the first phase of the scheme were completed several years ago.

Former CM Koh to clarify

Meanwhile, former Penang chief minister Koh Tsu Koon will answer in the near future, queries over the BN land sale.

Koh, who is minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said he needed to examine reports on the sale before explaining to Lim as required.

"I will give Lim the answer in the near future but I don't have the files now because we (Koh and then-state government excos) had left the files at the Chief Minister's Office. I need to read the reports and examine the files.

“By right, he (Lim) needs no clarification from us (the previous state government) because all he wants are in the files at his office," he told reporters after a ceremony to hand over the 2012 Budget Special Fund to northern zone missionary schools in Butterworth today.

- Bernama