Now Guan Eng reveals his accuser’s 'below market' land scandal

In a tit-for-tat, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has revealed what he said is Umno's Tasek Gelugor MP Shahbudin Yahaya's below market price sale of state lands

Lim said the land belonged to federal agency Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda), of which Shahbudin is the chairperson.

The chief minister's revelation came after Shahbudin had accused Lim of purchasing a bungalow at below market price.

Basing the same kind of tax documents Umno had used to highlight Lim's bungalow purchase, the chief minister revealed that Perda had sold 8.5 acres of lands in Taman Keramat Permai in Seberang Perai Selatan at a fraction of the market price.

Lim said the lands were collectively valued at RM16.636 million for tax assessment but were only sold at RM1.427 million to Syt Prestige Sdn Bhd.

“That means Perda and the people of Penang lost RM15.209 million.

“Was an open tender conducted for the sale of the lands and why was it sold at such a low price?

“It was sold at only 8.6 percent of the market price. What is the rationale of selling at such a cheap price?" he asked at a press conference in George Town today.

A recording of the press conference was uploaded by Bulletin Mutiara's Youtube channel.

Lim invited Shahbudin to “have coffee” with him at Komtar this Sunday at 11am to explain himself.

“We would like to give him a chance to explain... Maybe he will say he doesn’t know, or doesn’t remember, or he is shocked.

“But let’s give him a chance first,” he said.

Previously, Shahbudin had claimed that Lim’s purchase of a bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn for RM2.8 million was at below market price.

Penang Umno Youth had also obtained tax documents to show that the bungalow was valued at RM4.27 million.

Shahbudin also suggested that the below market purchase of the bungalow may be in exchange for the sale of state land in Taman Manggis.

However, Lim said the bungalow purchase was done on a willing-seller willing-buyer basis and the sale of the Taman Manggis land was done through open tender without his involvement.

When contacted, Shahbudin said he will call a press conference tomorrow to response to Lim’s accusation. -Mkini