GEORGE TOWN: A Gerakan leader who came under fire from Lim Guan Eng over unproven claims of a “one-man show” on a government land sale, hit back today, saying he has given documented proof.

The “unproven claims” were in reference to the Penang government’s decision to sell government land located at Peel Avenue here to a private hospital late last year.

Penang Gerakan Youth chief Jason Loo said the sale of the land was made through Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI), in which discretionary powers solely rested on Lim, who is Penang chief minister.

Loo said the CMI was under the total control of the chief minister, which made him the sole signatory on all deals concerning the company.

The RM156 million Peel Avenue sale was made through the CMI, as the land was under its ownership.

“I have provided proof that the state government’s sale of the land is a decision by one man.

“However, the government has failed to disprove my assertion, except to say they will not reply to my assertion or any comments made by Gerakan.

“But it is strange that he said he would answer to allegations made in mainstream newspapers,” Loo said in a press conference at the state Gerakan headquarters here today.

Loo said the proof lies under Sections 3 and 4 of the Chief Minister of Penang (Incorporation) Enactment 2009.

In response to Loo’s accusations earlier, Lim had reportedly said the Peel Avenue land sale was not a one-man decision but made through a unanimous decision in the state executive council.

He also said the price tag of the said land at RM156 million was made after a finance ministry department valuation.

Lim said the offer was made directly to the hospital as the investment was close to RM2 billion and was expected to have a positive impact on Penang’s economy in the next five years if it took off.

An upset Lim then told Loo that the accuser should be providing proof of his claim, not the other way around.

Lim had previously said although CMI was under him, all decisions, including land sales, were still made by the state executive council.

In response, Loo said Lim should declassify executive council minutes pertaining to the land sale so that it could prove that the sale was above board and not made solely by Lim.

“I dare the DAP government to declassify the minutes (of the meeting) in the next 24 hours to prove me wrong,” he said.

State executive council meeting minutes are bound by the Official Secrets Act but may be declassified by the chief minister.