Lim takes Koh to task for not re-tendering Komtar project

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has rapped his predecessor Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon for not practising open tender in the sale of state land for the Komtar Urban Redevelopment Project in 1995.

He said the land was awarded to the second highest bidder at RM240psf in the middle of 1995 when the original bidder who tendered the highest price of RM300psf in early 1993 failed to pay the first instalment for the land.

“How can there be open tender when the second highest bidder is given another chance to bid two and half years later when there should be a fresh tender?

“Where there is long duration between the award of the first tender and second tender, there should be a fresh tender to allow all who is interested to bid,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

Lim said property valuation prices cannot be valid after one year.

On another matter, he questioned Dr Koh for breaking his promise that he would not accept an appointment as a senator if he loses in the 2008 general election.

“Dr Koh still clings on to his post and ministerial position despite announcing that he would not contest in the coming general election,” he said.