Guan Eng using ‘cheap’ gimmicks to save face, Umno accuser says
(Malay Mail Online) – The Umno federal lawmaker who accused Lim Guan Eng of corruption earlier this week said today the Penang chief minister was resorting to cheap political stunts to divert attention from the real issue.
The lawmaker, Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya, questioned Lim’s challenge for a one-on-one meeting with him today, and said the Penang chief minister should instead leave the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“Instead of calling me for a one-on-one meeting, he should hand the issue to the authorities to investigate and decide.
“Why must he challenge me to meet him? Or does he want to have a ‘coffee break’ with me? I am only interested in working with SPRM towards the investigation of the course scandal and Taman Manggis land sale,” he was quoted in The Star Online as saying in a press conference at his service centre in Penang.
SPRM is the Malay acronym for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“I think he is trying to divert the main focus raised in Parliament to the issue of me not meeting him, and then accuse me of being a coward.
“The invitation by Bagan MP (Lim) is a cheap political gimmick,” Shabudin reportedly added.
Shabudin had called for the press conference today after snubbing Lim’s challenge on Friday to hold a one-on-one meeting on the matter.
The Tasek Gelugor MP had on Thursday alleged in the Dewan Rakyat that Lim’s purchase of his Jalan Pinhorn home in George Town was the result of a “shady” deal.
The Umno lawmaker claimed to have proof linking the purchase last year to a 2012 sale of government land in Taman Manggis to private developers for the construction of a private hospital and hotel.
He alleged that Lim bought the house for below market price from a seller who was linked to the company that bought the Taman Manggis land.
According to Shabudin, Lim bought the house last year for RM2.8 million when the property should have been valued between RM6 million and RM6.5 million.
Lim has since denied this, however, and held a press conference on Friday to say that the purchase had been on a willing-buyer-willing-seller basis.
“The seller is a private individual through sub-sale, and not a housing developer,” he said then.
Yesterday, Lim said the individual from whom he had bought the house was not involved in the firm that purchased the Taman Manggis land, nor was the person a director or a shareholder in the company.
The CM also said the state sold the land via open tender, and pointed out that he was not the chair of the state’s tender committee.
The MACC said on Friday that it will investigate the report against Lim without fear or favour, and revealed that it had previously probed him over his tenancy at the same house before.
