State executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow has refused to apologise to a former Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) president for allegations that the latter had sold a plot of land lower than its actual price when he was in office in 1993.

The land in question - Taman Midlands - was owned by the MPPP back then when its president was former state Gerakan leader Tan Gim Hwa.

NONE Tan's son - Nibong Tebal MP Tee Beng ( right ) - had demanded an apology from Chow.

"Tee Beng had stated that I had wrongly accused Gim Hwa for selling the land at a lower price . Our investigation into the documents and records of the sale suggests otherwise," said Chow, in a statement today.

"No apology will be offered to Gim Hwa as the facts prove that the land was sold much cheaper than the valuation price and also the price offered by the highest bidder," he added.

Chow made the claims when releasing a list of land and properties sold or acquired by the former MPPP president since 1990 to disprove allegations by the state BN that the MPPP in recent times, had often acted as a broker.

"Show us the evidence"

When contacted, Tee Beng shot back "Did Chow show you all the evidence of what he has stated in his press statement?"

"Even in court, both sides can access to the documents pertaining to the cases. Chow cannot simply say this or that without showing the relevant documents and evidence to us," he said.

Tee Beng said it was "unfair" to ask his father to remember details of cases or projects that took place 30 years ago.

"I urge Chow to find a proper place where both parties can sit and view the documents. An independent party should also be appointed to view the documents/ evidence. It should also be open to the press," the former PKR turned independent MP, said.

When asked if he was giving Chow a deadline to do this, Tee Beng insisted "No, but I urge that he shows proof before making these allegations or else apologise to my dad".

'Below official valuation'

Meanwhile, Chow explained that said the MPPP back then had invited a tender to develop 4.9 acres of land in Pulau Tikus at a reserve price of RM 90.00 per sq ft.

This price was below the official valuation by the Jabatan Penilaian dan Perkhidmatan Harta (JPPH) which set the price at RM 110.00 per square feet, he added.

Chow said the Penang state executive on March 3, 1993 had decided that the said land should be tendered out according to the official valuation by JPPH at RM 110.00 per sq ft and not below its valuation price.

"The tender board committee of the MPPP unanimously rejected the highest bidder at RM 99.82 per sq ft on the basis that it was not a bumiputera company," explained Chow.

"However, it must be noted that the official tender document did not disqualify non-bumiputera companies from bidding," he added.

"It was awarded to the company which offered the second highest bid - Pangkal Pertama Sdn Bhd - after negotiation by Gim Hwa at RM 90.00 per sq ft," stressed Chow, who is state DAP chief.

Chow said the company had offered an initial price of RM 85.20 per square ft in their bid.

'Against state exco decision'

He added that it had been well established that MPPP's reserve price of RM 90.00 per square ft was well below the JPPH valuation price of RM 110.00 per square foot.

"The question is why did MPPP fix the reserve price so much lower than the JPPH valuation price?" he queried.

"It is established that the MPPP had gone against the State Exco decision not to sell below the valuation price and also the MPPP had rejected the highest bidder wrongfully because the tender exercise did not exclude a non-bumiputera company from bidding," said Chow.

Chow said it had also been established that MPPP did not call for a fresh tender but negotiated with the second highest bidder.

"Based on the above facts, it was clear that the MPPP sold the land at a much lower price at RM 19,238.310.00 compared to JPPH valuation of RM 23,513,490.00 with a difference of RM 4,275,180.00," claimed Chow, the Tanjung MP.