It claimed there were discrepancies in the numbers revealed during state assembly sittings.
Penang Gerakan Youth assistant secretary Loh Kit Mun said the numbers for 2015 and 2016 also appeared to have been left out.
“During the May state assembly sitting, state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said 18 properties in the George Town heritage site had been bought by foreigners.
“But during the November sitting of the assembly, the chief minister’s answer appeared to contradict Chow’s answer.
“The chief minister revealed that 61 properties, including one by a foreign company, were bought by foreigners between 2008 and May 2014.
“Which is the right number? If the state government really subscribes to its ‘competency, accountability and transparency’ mantra, speak out and clarify for Penangites.
“If ‘bo hood’ (Hokkien for coward), then remain silent,” Loh said at a press conference at the Gerakan headquarters today. He also supplied copies of the said written replies given on May 10 and Nov 15.
In the May 10 written reply, Mahmud Zakaria (BN-Sungai Acheh) had asked how many houses were in the heritage zone, how many were bought by foreigners and how many hotels were developed.
Chow replied there were 2,104 houses in the heritage zone.
“Eighteen of them were bought by foreigners; and 156 hotels were developed in the heritage zone based on applications for planning permissions.
“Besides that, 24 planning permissions were approved since 2010 for hotels in the heritage zone,” he said.
In the Nov 15 reply, state Opposition leader Jahara Hamid had asked the Penang government to reveal the data on all properties that were sold to foreigners, along with individual and company details from 2008 till now in the heritage zone.
She also asked for the information according to year, zone and ownership.
In the reply to Jahara, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said based on records, 42 properties in the world heritage site had been sold.
“Of the 42 properties, only one lot was registered under a foreign company on Lot 116, Section 20 of the Northeast district,” Lim said.
The chief minister’s office and Chow have been contacted for comment at the time of writing.
RELATED STORIES: