KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will open an investigation paper (IP) on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over his alleged purchase of a house in the state at an undervalued price. A reliable source said the IP would be opened under the MACC Act 2009, “for allegedly receiving a bribe from a party with interest”.
“We received a number of reports on the issue today and we are waiting to see whether there are more to come. We would normally open an IP as soon as possible in cases like this and we will investigate regardless of who the individual is,” he told Bernama on Friday.
The source also said the MACC would call Guan Eng to give his statement, after obtaining the complainants and witnesses’ statements. Meanwhile, the source also said that the witnesses would be called to confirm their claims and only after that would they call Guan Eng.
The local press Friday reported about the alleged purchase by Guan Eng of a house in Jalan Pinhorn, George Town, Penang for lower than the current market value. Yesterday at the Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (BN-Tasek Gelugor) claimed that the house, on 10,161 sq ft (943.98 sq metres) of land, was bought by Guan Eng on Oct 25 last year for RM2.8 million. According to Shabudin, the market value of the property was between RM6 million and RM6.5 million.
Guan Eng had reportedly denied Shabudin’s claim. Meanwhile, Sensible and Ethical Malaysians United Team (Semut) today lodged a police report against the Penang chief minister on his alleged purchase of the property. Its chairman Zaparudin Abdul Rahim said Semut had urged MACC to be fair and professional by taking stern action against Guan Eng, who is also Bagan member of parliament.
