“I have proof. In the Hansard (of the state assembly session of 2012), it is clearly stated, when he (Lim) answered to a question from the backbenchers that the land was meant for PPR,” said Abdul Rahman, who is minister for urban wellbeing, housing and local government.

He said Lim should not deny knowledge that the land was meant for PPR.

On Friday Lim had said that the state government had no knowledge that the Taman Manggis land was earmarked for low-cost housing. The state government decided to offer the land for a specialist hospital project to encourage medical tourism.

The 0.8 hectare (two acre) plot in Taman Manggis has been the subject of controversy after the state government sold it to a private developer for a hospital and hotel project.

Abdul Rahman said Lim was not giving a true picture when he stated that the land was unsuitable for a public housing project. 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 Batu Kawan UMNO division’s branch meetings.

— BERNAMA