Guan Eng shows proof after Wee disputes offer price for HK asset
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng today produced a letter showing an RM1.68 billion offer to purchase the Malaysia Building in Hong Kong.
This was after MCA president Wee Ka Siong claimed that the actual offer was HK$1.6 billion (RM935 million), and that he was confident Lim would not dare to produce proof of the RM1.68 billion offer...
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng today produced a letter showing an RM1.68 billion offer to purchase the Malaysia Building in Hong Kong.
This was after MCA president Wee Ka Siong claimed that the actual offer was HK$1.6 billion (RM935 million), and that he was confident Lim would not dare to produce proof of the RM1.68 billion offer.
"I regret his claim that I cannot differentiate between the ringgit and the Hong Kong dollar, it was a malicious slander. He even asked me to resign.
"Now, I am asking him to resign for making a baseless accusation. He is perpetuating the culture of slander by the opposition.
"PAS and Umno have said it is permissible to lie, and now it appears MCA is being infected," Lim told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.
The Malaysia Building in Hong Kong first came to public attention when former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak accused Putrajaya of selling national assets.
However, Lim later revealed the sale was approved by the previous BN administration for RM1.1 billion through direct negotiation.
The Harapan government then intervened and held an open tender, and received an RM1.68 billion offer for the building.
According to the letter produced by Lim, the offer was made on Jan 20.
The name of the company which made the offer was redacted, but the letter described it as being involved in "structured financial investments and high-value real estate investment areas."
The company promised to pay 20 percent of the offer price upon signing of the sales and purchase agreement, and the remaining 80 percent after all terms in the agreement were met in not more than 90 days.
Even higher value
The finance minister said Putrajaya was now conducting an international open tender, as it believed the building could fetch an even higher value.
Wee later said in a press conference at the Parliament lobby that he sighted the letter, but was nevertheless unsatisfied with Lim's explanation.
"It was not a bid letter, but an indication of interest letter... There has yet to be an advertisement for an open tender, therefore, it is only an indication of interest," he told reporters.
The MCA leader maintained that the valuation of the property was at around HK$1.6 million (RM935 million).
He added that the previous government's decision to sell at RM1.1 billion was based on the valuation report.
"If he can sell it at double the market price, he should be praised and receive a standing ovation, but if he cannot, he should take responsibility and resign," he said.
Wee also stressed that the indication of interest letter was not final, and disputed its credibility.
"The purchased was unnamed, the agent was unnamed, the firm representing the purchaser was not disclosed, nor was it an official offer," he said.
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