An Umno division leader has questioned the silence of PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli and NGOs on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's purchase of a bungalow at below the market price.

"Where are the voices of the pro-opposition NGOs who purportedly demand transparency and justice without prejudice?

"When there are issues involving Umno and government leaders, they are vociferous. But when it involves Lim, they are afraid to even whimper," Ismail Kijo is quoted as saying by Umno Online .

"I am also puzzled by Rafizi having lost his voice (on this issue), despite he questioning the transparency and integrity of BN leaders," Ismail added.

The Ampang Umno chief questioned if Rafizi feared the "tokong's curse" and therefore does not dare ask Lim to go on leave pending the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) investigation into the deal.

The term "tokong" (deity) is often used by Lim's critics to describe his leadership traits.

As far as the opposition is concerned, Ismail said, when their cronies are accused of corruption, it describes such accusation as slander by the BN.

"However, when BN leaders are accused of corruption, they (the opposition) immediately pronounces the guilty verdict, even when it is merely an allegation.

"I am convinced that the opposition is also not free of corruption, but they are skilled at concealing it as well as using propaganda to divert attention by accusing others," he said.

Lim has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the purchase of the bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn for RM2.8 million and accused his political rivals of making false allegations.

Similarly, the house seller, businesswoman Phang Li Koon, also signed a statutory declaration stating that there was no ulterior motive behind the transaction.