A testy Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has a message for predecessor and new federal minister Koh Tsu Koon - clear up the mess that the Gerakan state administration left behind.
In particular, Lim wants Koh (right) to use his influence in the cabinet to allocate funds to the Penang government, to pay damages awarded over a land alienation deal that was botched seven years ago during the Barisan Nasional (BN) tenure.
“Koh should own up to his responsibility....He should help us to secure federal funds to settle the case,” said Lim told a press conference during a break in the state assembly sitting in George Town today.
On Feb 19, the Penang High Court had ordered the state government to place a deposit of RM14.678,135.50, or half of the RM29,356,271 in compensation due to plaintiff Tang Hak Ju in his law suit relating to the botched land deal.
The state was to have submitted the deposit by April 19, but is appealing the court’s verdict and quantum of damages.
Lim’s administration has also instructed the state legal adviser to write to the High Court, asking for more time to pay the deposit.
This is to enable the state government to pass a Supplementary Supply Enactment Bill at the next assembly session in July, to secure federal funds.
“We could not table the Bill at this sitting due to lack of time,” explained Lim.
He also indicated that the state government would seek to nullify the verdict on the ground that the situation had arisen from “misappropriation of state land by deception”.
At the last state assembly sitting, former executive councillor Hilmi Yahya had apologised for his mistakes in the land deal involving Tang, in central Seberang Perai.
The land alienation had been hastily approved by the land committee headed by Hilmi, and endorsed by the state executive council chaired by Koh.
Quarry report ready
In another development, state executive councillor Law Choo Kiang has submitted a full report on his investigation into three quarry operators for alleged manipulation of royalty payments to the state coffers.
The probe, which began last month, is also said to be connected to alleged cover-up of illegal quarry operations on the mainland by former Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin (right).
Lim said the state government would make the findings public once the report has been approved by the state executive council.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Penang Public Accounts Committee and PKR.are carrying out separate investigations into issues involving Mohammad Fairus.
He has quit his state posts and stepped down as assemblyperson for Penanti in the wake of the allegations, attributing his decision to the pursuit of further studies.
Malaysiakini
22/04/09
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