MCA publicity bureau chairperson Chai Kim Sen said that he has more questions for the previous owner of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's residence, following her "avoidance of her ties" to Kuala Lumpur International Dental Centre (KLIDC).

"It appears that the previous owner of Lim's residence, Phang Li Koon, has an unusual relationship with the state government when she intentionally avoided mentioning her business partnership with the majority shareholder of KLIDC, Dr Tang Yong Chew.

"As such, this raises even more questions," Chai said in a statement today.

He also pointed out that Phang has a close relationship with Lim's wife immediately after Pakatan Rakyat took over Penang, and that Phang's statutory declaration (SD) was read out by Penang executive council member Phee Boon Poh.

This proves that Phang's relationship with the state government is more than ordinary, he said.

Lim and Phang had also both avoided the sale of the Taman Manggis land, he said.

Information available through the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) had verified that Phang and Tang are business partners and directors in another three companies, he said.

"Thus, it is clear that Phang has an extraordinarily close relationship with the state government, including the chief minister and his wife, as well as with the majority shareholder of KLIDC," Chai said.

As such, he questioned if Tang would have been able to purchase the Taman Manggis land at such a low price if not for this “special relationship” and whether Lim would have been able to purchase his house below the market price as well.

"It is obvious that both Lim and Phang owe the public an explanation," he said.

Yesterday, Phang had signed a statutory declaration explaining the process of the sale of the double-storey house located along Jalan Pinhorn to Lim.

Phang also declared that she is not a director nor shareholder of KLDIC, which won the bid for the Taman Manggis land via an open tender.

She also denied being involved in the management of the firm.

“I do not understand why my agreement to sell the house to the CM has been blown up to such a big national issue when I have no business dealings with the state government,” she stated in the SD.

Lim is under attack for buying the bungalow below the market price, which was raised in Parliament on March 17 by Umno Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahaya.

Lim denied the allegation, saying the purchase of the bungalow, which he had previously been renting, was above board.