Its state liaison committee chairman, Zainal Abidin Osman, was referring to recent remarks by Lim, who had urged Zainal to explain the true story behind the sale of the land, located at Mukim 9, Kampung Tok Keramat, Nibong Tebal, South Seberang Perai, by the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda).
Zainal said he was informed that Penang exco Dr Afif Bahardin, on behalf of the Penang government, had lodged a report with MACC on April 7, 2016 over the land sale and that the case was still being investigated.
“I would like to advise Lim to pose any queries he has on the status of the report with MACC.
“For the chief minister’s information, MACC is not under Umno’s purview and the state Umno chairman is not responsible for investigations carried out by Penang MACC.
“Lim does not need to be cynical and say MACC is slow in carrying out its investigations, as well as accuse MACC of being Umno’s lackey, just because MACC took him to court and he was charged with graft,” he said in a statement today.
Lim had recently asked Zainal to explain the issue over the land sale, which he claimed has resulted in RM15.2 million in losses to Penangites.
He claimed that according to the market rate, the land price was RM16.636 million but it was sold for merely RM1.426 million.
Zainal said Lim’s move in raising this issue again was a desperate move to divert the attention of Penangites away from the anti-graft body’s probe into the tunnel-roads project.
He said Lim appeared to be still dissatisfied with Perda chairman and Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahya for raising the issue of his bungalow purchase allegedly at below the market rate in Parliament two years ago.
Meanwhile, Zainal again urged Lim to go on leave, in light of his upcoming graft trial, which begins on March 26.
He said Lim must follow in the footsteps of the chief executive officer of JKP Sdn Bhd, a company that belongs to Ministry of Finance Incorporated, who went on leave after being asked to do so during the company’s internal probe on alleged misconduct. The case went viral on social media.
“The course of justice will be disrupted if Lim does not take leave from his duties as chief minister during his graft trial. This is because his position as the chief executive of the state government will put pressure on state officials who will be called as witnesses during the trial,” he added.
It was reported that the High Court has fixed 23 days to hear the corruption case involving Lim and businesswoman Phang Li Koon.
Justice Hadhariah Syed Ismail fixed the hearing dates from March 26 to 30, April 9 to 12, April 23 to 27, May 7 to 10 and May 21 to 25.
The prosecution will be calling up a total of 40 witnesses.
On June 30, 2016, Lim was charged with using his public office to obtain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew, by approving an application by Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd to convert agricultural land for residential purposes.
Lim was also alleged to have used his position to obtain gratification by purchasing a bungalow from Phang for RM2.8 million at below the property’s market value of RM4.7 million on July 28, 2015.