Guan Eng not giving true picture of Taman Manggis - Abdul Rahman

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was not giving the true picture when he said the 0.8 hectare (two acres) Taman Manggis in George Town was unsuitable for public housing project (PPR), said Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

He said this was relayed to him by ministry officers when asked why the land was sold to the private sector and not used for PPR.

"If the first phase and the second phase is completed, the total land area is over two acres, more than the requirement for PPR.

"The second part is less than two acres as it is part of the big land. If I want to develop PPR, it can be done by building another tower," he said after opening the cluster meeting of branches at the Batu Kawan UMNO division last night.

Abdul Rahman said Lim should not deny knowledge the land was meant for PPR as it was recorded in the Hansard at the State Legislative Assembly sitting in 2012.

"I have proof. In the Hansard, it is clearly stated, when he answered to a question from the backbenchers that the land was meant for PPR."

Lim in his statement, said the state government had no knowledge that the Taman Manggis land was earmarked for low-cost housing.

READ: Bungalow was bought on willing buyer-willing seller basis - Guan Eng

READ: MACC to open investigation paper on Lim Guan Eng over bungalow

He said to encourage medical tourism, the state government decided to offer the land to a specialist hospital.