Aug 17, 2012
The Penang state government welcomed an offer from Penang Barisan Nasional to buy a land at Taman Manggis for RM21,562,200 or RM450 psf.
Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang, said they "will sell it to them provided they can come up with the money."
"The money will be used to subsidise the affordable housing project planned on a 4.45ha site at Jalan S.P. Chelliah."
Lim noted that the state government also accepted the proposal of Barisan to develop affordable homes on the 0.4ha site adjacent Jalan Zainal Abidin-Lorong Selamat.
Oh Tong Keong, Penang Barisan Youth chief, said Barisan supporters would be asked to give money to help buy the land for building affordable housing. He also asked the state to release the open tender documents as well as the minutes of the exco meeting where the approval of the sale of land took place.
"If the state does not want to build affordable housing for the people, we will take care of it. We have a lot of supporters," said Oh.
On the other hand, H'ng Khoon Leng, State Barisan Information Chief has questioned Lim regarding an alleged link between the bidder of the land and his luxury home in Pinhorn Road.
Previously, Kuala Lumpur International Dental Centre has won a tender to buy the Taman Manggis land for RM11 million or at RM232 psf. However, the state government did not transfer the title of the land since the buyer had not yet obtained the permit to construct a private medical specialist centre.
