DAP's Yeo Bee Yin and Tony Pua are standing by their allegations against MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun, pertaining to a land deal, and "welcome" legal action from her.
"We find absolutely nothing in defamatory in (our) questions and facts, which were expressed in the purported defamatory video published by Yeo on her Facebook, and our joint press conferences on the issue.
"Hence, there is absolutely no reason for the video to be taken down. Chew is free to sue Yeo/ or Pua, as that is her prerogative," they said in a joint statement.
Yeo, who is Damansara Utama assemblyperson, and Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, had in previous press conferences, claimed that Chew, as the former Petaling Jaya Utara MP, had, as a part of the District Land Committee (JTK) that is authorised to approve land deals in her constituency, been complicit in the purchase of a land way below market price.
According to them, Selangor MCA had in 2008, purchased the one-acre land in Kampung Cempaka in Petaling Jaya, at RM1 per-square-foot, for a total of RM52,000.
They had estimated the market price of the land to be RM400 per-square-foot, worth a total of RM18 million.
Pua also questioned if it was ethical to allow a political party to purchase land at preferential prices, calling the act a “breach of trust” as such prices were usually reserved for land used for places of worship.
In response, Chew had accused the duo of getting their facts wrong and said that MPs do not sit on JTK, thus, have no authority over land deals.
MCA Selangor also rubbished the allegations, saying the deal had followed ordinary protocol and was completely above board.
Earlier today, Chew announced her intention to pursue legal action against Yeoh and Pua. According to her, a letter of demand has already been sent to Yeo, demanding an apology and the video that made "false allegations" on Sept 14, be taken down.
In the joint statement, Yeo and Pua said that Chew was better off returning the piece of land to the state government.
“If she is concerned about her political reputation being damaged, she will be much better off winning the hearts and minds of the people by declaring that all parcels of land alienated by state governments all over the country to MCA, be returned to the respective state governments, failing which the premium for the parcels of land be paid in full,” they said.- Mkini
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