WHY ALL the FUSS? House Seller Issues SD, Debunks Opposition Claims
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沙布丁缺席一对一会晤 PENANG HAS 首长临时邀请媒体参观私邸无隐瞒 THE LOWEST DEBTS pg pg 3 1 FREE buletin Competency Accountability Transparency http:www.facebook.com/buletinmutiara March 16 - 31, 2016 http:www.facebook.com/cmlimguaneng WHY ALL THE FUSS? House seller issues SD, debunks opposition claims Story by Chan Lilian will be taken against those mak- Pix by Shum Jian-Wei ing accusations. “I also wish to clarify here that PHANG Li Koon, who sold her I am not a director nor share- house to Chief Minister Lim holder of KLIDC company I have no business Guan Eng, issued a statutory which has successfully bid for dealings with the state declaration (SD) on March 22 the Taman Manggis land under government where she debunked allegations an open tender. I am also not by certain quarters. involved in the management of - PHANG “CM and his family have been the company. I reserve my right my good tenants for the last six to legal action against any party years. To me, CM is a respectable should they try to make unneces- leader and I feel very honoured sary connection to complicate the to sell my property to him. I think matter and drag me into this Betty, a former lawyer and Penang has done well under his controversy,” Phang warned. assemblymember, had shown the administration. Most important- Phang’s explanation that the media members her kitchen, liv- ly, I have sold my property to a price was fixed in 2012 has al- ing room and the array of her person I respect. I have no regret layed all doubts. son’s toys. selling my property to CM at “By early 2012, I had orally Lim and Betty fielding questions after they brought media The home came under the hot RM2.8 million. I have cleared informed CM’s wife, Betty members for a tour of their home. spotlight after Tasek Gelugor MP myself of unnecessary headache Chew, that if they were ready and Datuk Shabudin Yahaya made and stress,” Phang said in her SD. willing to buy, I will sell them the whereby I agreed to grant him a visit his house and even gave the wild accusation of elements “I do not understand why my house at RM2.8 million. I was five-year option tenure to pur- them permission to take photos of corruption being involved in agreement to sell my house to told by Betty that they were in- chase the said property at of the interior, opposition mem- the house purchase. CM has been blown up into such terested but CM was worried that RM2.8million in consideration bers and Ministers dismissed it Lim had challenged Shabudin a big national issue when I have he could not afford the house if of CM paying me RM100,000. as a publicity stunt. to speak outside the confines of no business dealings with the he was not re-elected as the Chief Pending exercising of the option, Yet, when Lim challenged the Parliament but Shabudin failed state government. Neither have I Minister. So Betty asked wheth- I shall continue to allow CM and Ministers and other Barisan Na- to turn up at Lim’s office for a obtained any benefit from the er I would still sell the house to family to continue renting the sional leaders to open their doors, meeting on March 20. state government by selling the them at the same price of RM2.8 said property.” none responded. Lim has also invited the Ma- house to him. It is my decision at million after the 13th general With the SD which was sol- Lim’s wife, Betty Chew Gek laysian Anti-Corruption Com- what price I want to sell to the elections,” Phang said. emnly declared and witnessed by Cheng who was in the house mission to carry out investiga- CM. I stress that I was not pres- “However after the 13th gen- a Commissioner for Oaths, the when the media visited her tions on the issue and has pledged sured or forced or under any eral election in 2013, CM’s wife matter of Lim’s house has been home on March 20, replied to full cooperation in the probe. undue influence by CM or any told me that they still needed put to an end. media members how she felt At the conclusion of the party to sell the house to CM at some time to purchase the prop- However, the few days before when her privacy and her home media visit to his home, Lim RM2.8 million. I sold on my own erty and she requested for an this was a media circus. were opened to the glare of said: “As you can see, this is free will on a willing buyer and option to purchase at a later date TV stations, newspapers and press cameras. just an ordinary home. Let the willing seller basis,” she added. when they were ready to do so. social media sites made all sorts “It is part of transparency,” rakyat decide.” The declaration also came In 2014 CM and I then executed of speculation and accusations. Betty replied in her usual calm with a warning that legal action an agreement dated 23.6.2014 When Lim allowed media to composed manner. • SEE ALSO PG 8 2 March 16 - 31, 2016 Housing Minister proven wrong Story by Chan Lilian price of affordable housing is capped at RM400,000 and attempted to worm his A SHOUTING match broke out in the way out of the claim and then called the BN should Dewan Rakyat on March 16 when Urban CM a liar.” Wellbeing, Housing and Local Govern- She said if at all, it was Abdul Rahman stop blatant ment Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman who had misled the house and lied about Dahlan accused Chief Minister Lim the RM400,000 cap on affordable hous- misrepresentation Guan Eng of lying over the price of af- ing imposed by his very own ministry fordable housing. and the BN led government through its EXCO member for Housing, Town & The uproar erupted when Abdul Rah- PR1MA housing schemes. Country Planning Jagdeep Singh has man said: “It is the decision of the Penang Kasthuri then pointed out an article by urged Barisan Nasional (BN) to stop its Government. I do not want the people to The Edge. denial syndrome. blame the Federal Government because In the article by The Edge Property “I refer to certain press reports quoting the RM400,000 price tag was set by the dated April 21, 2015, PR1MA Corpora- Penang BN leaders as stating that the cur- state government.” This prompted Batu pricing mechanism set by the federal gov- tion Malaysia (PR1MA) said that the rent administration in Penang is not pro- Kawan MP Kashturi Patto (pix) to de- ernment. The main point is the price is not ceiling price of its homes remained at viding affordable housing priced at mand that Abdul Rahman retract his determined by the state but by the federal RM400,000, despite its joint ventures RM42,000 and RM72,500, and the cheap- statement and apologise. At a press government. Certainly Rahman Dahlan is with private developers to build afford- est affordable housing available in Penang conference on March 17, at the Penang behaving in a wild and untruthful manner,” able homes for Malaysians as reported is RM400,000. This is a blatant misrepre- Development Corporation, Lim had Lim added. in The Edge Financial Daily. sentation of the actual status of the provi- given to media members several news Meanwhile, Kasthuri and Jelutong MP The report also stated that PR1MA sion of affordable housing by the current articles and the excerpt of the Budget Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun said this about Abdul reiterates once again that PR1MA homes Penang state government,” Jagdeep said 2012 and 2013. Rahman: “He should not politicise the have always been priced at between at a press conference in Komtar on March “It is very clear that the price was set by issue of low cost, low medium cost and RM100,000 and a maximum of 17. the prime minister and it was tabled in the affordable housing in Malaysia.” RM400,000. PR1MA has never changed “I have repeatedly stated that the Pen- 2012 budget. I do not want to exchange In a press statement dated March 17, its price range. ang state government has currently in the insults with Rahman Dahlan. I only want Kasthuri said: “During the Q&A session “Abdul Rahman Dahlan must remem- pipeline 12 projects, in all five districts in to point out to him that the federal govern- in Parliament yesterday, Ahmad Rahman ber that it is in fact PR1MA that has set the state of Penang, which will provide a ment announced it in 2012-2013 budget,” Dahlan accused Bagan MP who is also the range of affordable housing to total of 22,512 units of various types of Lim said. “Is Rahman Dahlan saying that Chief Minister of Penang for shifting the RM400,000 and not the Penang state affordable housing,” he added. the PM lied? We are just followed the blame to the federal government that the government in its own right.” On top of this, the private sector has also assisted the state government by com- mitting to build approximately 10,000 units of various types of affordable hous- Jagdeep refutes Minister’s claims ing ranging from RM42,000 to STATE exco member for- since 2014, JKP had applied RM400,000. Town & Country Planning to build a total of 8 housing Clearly, it is not accurate to state that and Housing Jagdeep Singh projects with the state gov- this state government is not providing af- has strongly refuted allega- ernment while Perda applied fordable housing units priced at RM42,000 tions made by Urban Well- to build 7.