Guan Eng urged to explain why the state government entered into a land deal

By SHARANJIT SINGH

CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng has been urged to explain why the state government entered into a land deal whereby it had to bear the risk if the purchaser failed to obtain the approvals required to build a private hospital.

State Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow said the people were puzzled why the state government had to bear such risk over the Taman Manggis land deal that was purportedly sold via open tender as claimed by Lim.
"How can the state government be held liable?
"The state must explain why it has to refund the company RM10 million for canceling the project when it failed to obtain a licence from the Health Ministry as stated by the chief minister," he said.
Teng said everywhere in the country where a piece of land had been sold, the risk would be with the buyer to obtain all the necessary approvals.
He said he was surprised by the twists and turns of the state government that preached competency, accountability and transparency on the issue of Taman Manggis land, which had originally been identified for a people's housing project.
Teng said the state government should fulfil the social needs of the lower income group as there were already many avenues for private hospitals to cater to health tourism.
"Even the Bayan Mutiara land was sold by the present state government with a condition to build private hospital.
"Is housing for the poor less of a priority for Lim than health tourism?" Teng asked.
Teng also criticised Lim for claiming that the Health Ministry had rejected an application to built a private hospital on the Taman Manggis site.
He said the disclosure of a 'tiada bantahan' or no objection letter from the Health Ministry on the application by Kuala Lumpur International Dental Sdn Bhd by Phee Boon Poh, who is the state executive committee chairman for Health and Welfare, clearly contradicted the statement by Lim that the application was rejected by the ministry.
Teng reminded Lim that the contentious issue was not the licence to operate a private hospital on that piece of land earmarked by the previous administration for low cost housing for rental.
"The issue is why a piece of land for low-cost housing has been sold to build private hospital with 19-storey hotel.
"The state government should stop twisting the fact on Taman Manggis land. Penang BN will continue to expose further intrinsic information about Taman Manggis land in due course," Ten added.

Guan Eng urged to explain why the state government entered into a land deal

CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng has been urged to explain why the state government entered into a land deal whereby it had to bear the risk if the purchaser failed to obtain the approvals required to build a private hospital.

Leave Your Comment

Most Read

Most Commented