Since the company who had originally wanted to purchase the 1.1 acre plot of land in Taman Manggis has failed to obtain a license to build a private health and dental hospital, the Penang state government should retract the sale.
The land was originally reserved for public housing and it was put on sale by the Dap led government through an open tender.
Penang BN has been critical of the sale and alleged that it was sold below the market price. State BN Youth leaders handed over RM224,073 to a representative of the Penang government in Komtar this morning.
"We're paying the one percent deposit today to show our sincerity and promises fulfilled. We are serious about this (purchase).
“We have made history, for it is historic for an opposition party to buy land and build public housing," said Oh Tong Keong, who is state Gerakan Youth chief.
"We should enter the Guinness Book of World Records," he told reporters.
Most absurd sale ever
Yes, a Guinness Record should be accorded for the most absurd sale ever. The land does not belong to Dap but it should be held in trust by the ruling state government for the people.
It should not be politicized at all. It is irrelevant for Ng Wei Aik to ask how the BN Youth could gather that much cash.
It is important to note that Ng does not represent the state government and he, as a political secretary to the Chief Minister, does not have the power or locus standi to make a purchase offer to Penang BN on behalf of the state government. He has clearly overstepped his jurisdiction as a state assemblyman.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should take cognizance of unauthorized and unconstitutional representation of his political appointees. It is making a mockery of the whole state government process.
BN out to score a point
On the other hand, the Penang BN is only out to score a political point. As a political party, they should be accountable and transparent to the fund collected for the purchase. If the money is coming from private developers as claimed, there is a room for MACC to move in for investigation. What is the purpose/motive for the financial support?
I sincerely hope both coalitions can act in a responsible manner. The land belongs to the people of Penang, not a political prize.
My critique of the state government's economic development policy remains the same; it is not sustainable to fund development through sale land or land swap. There is a need of a better economic development policy and it is a challenge for both Pakatan and BN to present their solution.
It is a shame that the Taman Manggis land has become a political pawn for both coalitions. It is unscrupulous and a sheer display of political arrogance!
-http://khookaypeng.blogspot.com
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