Former Deputy CM Rashid and Penang land admin.

Wednesday April 16, 2008

Former Deputy CM Rashid given April 28 ultimatum

PENANG: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has given former deputy chief minister Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah until April 28 to explain himself over alleged land improprieties under the previous administration.

Failing which, the state government will reveal all details, Lim said after the state executive councillor meeting on Wednesday.

The land improprieties had resulted in millions of ringgit being siphoned off state coffers, the new state government has alleged.

Abdul Rashid, also the former chairman of the state’s development and land affairs committee, has denied knowledge of any land improprieties.

He also reportedly cautioned Lim against making “blind allegations without any proof in hand” and lambasted the new state government for not knowing how to run its administration.

He suggested Lim “take lessons on land administration before making allegations about land discrepancies”.

“Initially I had not planned to expose the details just yet, nor had I made any accusations because I wanted to give Abdul Rashid a chance to explain why premium discounts were given to certain quarters and why state land was alienated to some big companies,” Lim had said earlier.

Tuesday April 15, 2008

Prove allegations, ex-DCM tells Lim

BUTTERWORTH: Former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah has challenged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to expose the alleged land discrepancy cases that have supposedly taken place under the previous state administration.

The former state exco member who chair-ed the Land Development and Land Affairs Committee said Lim should not make blind allegations without any proof in hand.

“Lim should be specific about the alleged cases, such as the lot numbers, the location and details of the land owners.

“He must back up his allegations with facts and figures,” he said in an interview last night.

On April 2, Lim said that a special panel had been set up to investigate land impro-prieties in Penang after the new government uncovered a scam involving a RM13mil land deal.

Lim said that the three-member panel would submit its findings to the police and Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) after gathering the details.

Abdul Rashid last week denied knowledge of any land improprieties in the previous government.

He, in turn, lambasted the new state go-vernment for not knowing how to run its administration.

In The Star yesterday, it was reported that Lim had invited Abdul Rashid to discuss matters pertaining to alleged land discrepancies.

Abdul Rashid said he had never received any official invitation from Lim and wanted The Star to clarify the matter.

“I have also never received any invitation from Lim to meet him.

“Perhaps, he needs to take lessons on land administration before making allegations about land discrepancies,” he said.