Penang state executive councillor in charge of local government, Chow Kon Yeow, has denied that a leaked memo detailing an appeal by Kuala Lumpur International Dental Care (KLIDC) to increase the plot ratio of its project on the Taman Manggis land proves that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had personally intervened on the company's behalf.

Chow said the memo, which is part of the permission planning stage that all projects and projects owners must go through, was a normal process and did not denote any special treatment.

"It is normal for us to write to the (Penang City Hall) or the (Penang City) mayor on appeals to study (a project) and forward them to the relevant technical agencies.

"It is normal for us (to do this) because we not the authority (with expertise) to decide," Chow said at a press conference , as seen in a video uploaded by state organ Penang Bulletin .

He was responding to allegations made via a posting on controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin's website MalaysiaToday, which was picked up by other media.

The posting states that Lim had personally intervened to help KLIDC increase the plot ratio of the project on the Taman Manggis land from 1:55 to 1:7, which is claimed to have increased the project value by nearly RM30 million.

Chow said all project owners have the right to appeal to the state planning committee and many of these appeals would be forwarded to the state executive council, Penang City Hall and technical agencies, or even to the Chief Minister's Office.

"Applicants can appeal against the planning guidelines... but it is up to the state planning committee to consider," he said, adding that they could also appeal for a waiver.

The applications normally go through state officials, who would then channel them to the appropriate technical agency.

It was also normal, Chow said, for the state government to approve applications to increase the plot ratios of projects in sectors it wants to encourage and develop.

"I hope those who made the allegations will check their facts before doing so," Chow added.