‘I was not on tender board’, says Guan Eng

(The Sun Daily) – Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has denied that he was a member of the tender board which awarded the Taman Manggis land for a private hospital development via an open tender.

Distributing copies of the state tender board decision, Lim pointed out that neither his name, nor that of any state exco member, appeared as board members.

The names for the July 2010 decision were those of then board chairman and state secretary Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman (now with Human Resources Ministry), then state financial officer Datuk Farizan Darus (now state secretary), state economic planning unit director Zaini Husain and state works department director Ahmad Latif Abdul Hamid.

Lim was responding to questions by Barisan Nasional (BN) that he allegedly had personally benefited from the decision.

He described such an allegation as “wild and irresponsible” and called on the state opposition to show proof to back up its claims.

The 0.4ha land has been in the limelight with BN claiming that it had been earmarked for a people’s housing project during its time as the state government.

However, the present Pakatan Rakyat-led administration has said the land was too small and had set aside a 4.45ha piece in Jalan SP Chelliah for an affordable housing project.

On whether he had a personal relationship with the owner of the company who had won the bid, Lim asked whether it was a crime to know somebody.

“How can there be personal interest when I am not a member of the tender board?” he asked.

Meanwhile, Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong had showed news reports in April 2009 (theSun and Sin Chew) stating that Lim had defended his appointment as state tender board chairman.

He labelled Lim as a ‘deceitful and manipulative person’ for distorting the facts regarding his membership in the board.

It is understood that Lim will be clarifying the reports at a press conference today.