Mayhem ends in ejection

THERE was mayhem in the Dewan Rakyat as Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was ejected, opposition MPs staged a walkout and Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Lo­­cal Government Minister Datuk Ab­­dul Rahman Dahlan produced what he claimed was fresh evidence of corruption against Lim, the Bagan MP.

Rahman said he would submit the documents to the Malay-sian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to help investigations into the allegations of corruption against Lim over controversial land and property deals.

Rahman, who was wrapping up his ministry's reply in the Dewan Rakyat, said he received the documents involving the company that had bought a plot of land meant for affordable housing, but was later converted into a hospital and hotel project.

“I will submit the documents to the MACC to facilitate their investigations. I am sure those named will be called for their statements to be recorded,” he said.

According to him, the documents revealed that the company did not intend to develop the land but instead planned to dispose it to a third party.

Rahman said the land at Taman Manggis had initially been gazetted by the state government to build affordable houses in the state, which Lim claimed he knew nothing about.

“He has disappointed the people of Penang, as the land was meant for the lower-income group, but was instead sold to a company for a private project,” he said.

Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (DAP-Beruas) challenged Rahman to repeat his allegations outside the Dewan.

Earlier, there was a shouting match in the Dewan which led to several opposition lawmakers staging a walkout after Lim was ejected from the House following a heated argument with Rahman over the ceiling price of RM400,000 for affordable homes in Penang.

The heated exchange took place when Lim raised a standing order, seeking Rahman to retract the word bohong used against him over the issue.

However, Rahman refused, saying that he used the word in the context that on March 16, Lim had made an inaccurate statement over the matter.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said, who had earlier allowed both MPs to clarify their statements, urged Lim to table a motion if he was unhappy with his ruling.

Lim retorted that such remarks were unparliamentarian and should not be used in the Dewan.

Lim and Teo Kok Seong (DAP-Rasah) were ejected from the House after refusing to accept Ismail’s ruling.