But the Penang CM hits back at Chua Tee Yong by saying that the previous BN administration sold more land in the state.
UPDATED
PETALING JAYA: MCA has hit out at the Penang government for resorting to selling land to amass hundreds of millions of ringgit last year, saying that it was a short-term solution that came at the expense of the state’s citizens.
MCA Young Professionals Bureau Chairman Chua Tee Yong said the move not only created unsustainable income for the government, but had also deprived Penangites of affordable homes.
“In long term, the state government will be richer but the people will be poorer. This is because state government earns their income from selling land but the people [grow] poorer as they need to pay a higher price for home ownership,” said Chua in a statement today.
He said developers would raise housing prices to cushion the hefty sum they paid for the government land, and this would ultimately force home-seekers in Penang to shoulder the extra cost.
“The trading of land in Penang is definitely causing land prices in Penang to increase. Hence, housing prices in Penang will fly as well. This will only harm the rights of Penangites, as they need to bear the hike in prices for land and house,” said Chua, who is Labis MP.
He pointed out that rather than selling off the land, the government could have developed it and reaped the profit from the ensuing commercial activities.
“The most important (thing) is the government still possesses the land title and they could allocate the land to build more affordable homes for the rakyat.”
He said the third quarter of the Auditor-General Report 2012 revealed the state government had earned RM51.09 million more than what it had earned in 2011. RM200 million of its profits came from selling government land, said Chua.
“A government that relies on selling land to earn profit is a government that does not know how to draft a plan for long term economic growth, nor knows how to upgrade economic growth or enhance the income liquidity of the rakyat.
“DAP always (says) they that they are performing better [than] BN. Is that the best they can do?” he asked.
Lim: BN sold more
Meanwhile, Lim at a press conference at his office today, said Chua was ‘mischievous’ and ‘has run out of political capital’ by bringing up the matter.
Meanwhile, Lim at a press conference at his office today, said Chua was ‘mischievous’ and ‘has run out of political capital’ by bringing up the matter.
He further alleged that Chua, who is expected to contest the MCA vice president post at the party polls this month, is using Penang to drum up support for the election.
“He said we beautify our accounts and that our extra revenue came from selling land. It is very mischievous of him,” said Lim.
Lim said the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government sold off 106.1 acres of land valued at RM1.11 billion over the last six years.
The 1.1 acre Taman Manggis on Jalan Zainal Abidin was sold at RM10.2 million (RM232 per square foot) while the 105 acre Bayan Mutiara was bought over by developer Ivory Properties Group Berhad at RM1.1 billion (RM240 per sq ft).
Apart from land sales, he said money was also generated through premium payments to the state for extended leases for land.
He also pointed the finger at the Barisan Nasional government which he claimed had sold 3,661 acres of land for a total RM1.05 billion in the previous 15 years (before 2008) when it was in power.
The plots of land allegedly sold by the BN are in Tanjung Tokong (980 acres for RM42.7 million), Jelutong Expressway (325 acres for RM325 million), Batu Kawan (750 acres for RM106 million) and Butterworth (1,606 acres for RM584.9 million).
“Why does Chua want to talk about our 100 acres and not the over 3,000 acres BN sold and for a lot less money?
“Why did Pakatan manage to get more money? It is because we sold the land through open tenders, unlike BN. He claims we beautify our accounts. Does he mean there is hanky-panky?” Lim questioned. fmt
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