Are there any plans to build public housing units on a land sold below market value in Seberang Perai, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng asked Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) today. 

In a statement, Lim said Perda chairperson Shabudin Yahaya's claim that there would be public housing on the said plot was doubtful, as there was no mention of any housing projects in the developer's application sent to the Seberang Perai Municipal Council on March 28 last year. 

Instead, the application only mentioned the construction of 27 shop lots, he added. 

Lim pointed out that national guidelines for housing makes it compulsory for public housing, or affordable homes, to be built at the same time, or before the construction of shop lots and luxury homes. 

The DAP secretary-general also noted that the land involved was sold without an open tender. 

Perda had in 2015, sold 8.6 acres of land in Sungai Acheh, Nibong Tebal, for RM1.4 million - well below the valuation of RM16.6 million by the Inland Revenue Department. 

Lim had pointed out that this has caused Perda to incur losses of RM15.2 million. 

Shabudin however, has denied the RM16.6 million valuation, saying it was not for the plot of land per se, but for its surrounding plots as well. 

The Tasek Gelugor MP has also said the land was sold below market value due to massive erosion there, which would cost Perda some RM10 million to fix. 

Shabudin had also said that the developer who bought the land - SYT Prestige Sdn Bhd, was told to build public housing there. 

Lim dismissed Shabudin's remarks, saying the cost of treating the erosion-prone land would have cost Perda only about RM5 million.

“It is better for Perda to close shop and sell all its land to a private developer,” Lim said.