Penang Umno has urged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to direct his questions on the sale of a plot of land in Seberang Perai Selatan by the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
State Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman said the status of the 3.46-hectare plot of land in Mukim 9, Kampung Tok Keramat, Nibong Tebal, is now with the MACC.
"For Lim's information, MACC is not under the control of Umno and the Penang Umno chief is not responsible for the probe by MACC on the matter," Zainal said in a statement.
"Lim does not have to be sarcastic and say that the MACC is weak, while saying it is under Umno just because the graft watchdog has dragged him to court and charged him with corruption," Zainal added.
Zainal (photo) claimed Lim's move to raise this issue was clearly a "desperate act", to divert attention of the public from focusing on MACC's probe into the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel and three highways, which has become a hot topic since last month.
The graft buster has questioned more than 70 people and nabbed four high-ranking executives, including two with "Datuk" titles, over the project for alleged possible kickbacks to state politicians.
On Feb 22, Lim had urged Zainal to explain the sale of the plot of land by Perda, which be alleged to be below market value, resulting in a loss of RM15 million for the state development office.
No action from the authorities
Lim issued a similar query last year, after there was no action from the authorities to his complaint.
On April 7, 2016, state executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin lodged a report with the MACC on the matter, but there has been no action by the commission until today.
Zainal said Lim had raised the matter of the Perda land in Parliament and his queries had been answered by the Prime Minister's Department on two occasions.
"It seems that the CM is not satisfied with Perda chairperson and Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahya (on right in photo), who raised the issue of Lim's purchase of the bungalow at below market value two years ago," Zainal said.
Lim’s graft trial to being March 26
Zainal reminded Lim that his graft trial would begin on March 26, in the High Court in Penang.
Lim has been charged with two counts of corruption, related to the purchase of the RM2.8 million bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn at below market value and for the conversion of a plot of agriculture land to commercial land.
He was charged together with businesswoman Phang Li Koon, who had allegedly abetted him in the matters.
Lim has denied the charges, claiming the case is a political persecution to end his political career.
Despite Lim's denials, Zainal continued to urge Lim to consider taking leave from his job to attend the month-long trial, which will see more than 60 witnesses taking the stand.
"The CM should follow the example of the chief executive officer of federal agency JKP Sdn Bhd, a company under the Finance Ministry.
"The CEO took leave after being told to do so as an internal investigation on his misconduct was viralised on social media and he does not want to be seen as influencing the company's staff during the probe," Zainal explained.
He said the internal investigations on the CEO have been submitted to MACC.
The process of justice will be jeopardised by Lim not taking leave from his post as chief minister since he was slapped with the graft charges related to his bungalow in 2016, Zainal said.
"As CM, his position would place undue pressure on the officers who work under him when they take the witness stand during his trial," he added.- Mkini
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