Shabudin snubs Guan Eng's challenge

PETALING JAYA: The saga surrounding the purchase of a two-storey bungalow by Lim Guan Eng is far from over after Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (pic) snubbed the Penang chief minister's challenge for a one-on-one meeting.

In a press invite sent out by his office on Satuday night, the Barisan Nasional lawmaker will instead have a separate press conference at his Umno office at 11am Sunday morning, the same time set by Lim for the meeting he proposed.

The Penang chief minister has come under siege for allegedly purchasing the bungalow on below market price.

Shabudin, who made the revelation at Parliament last Thursday, claimed that the house, on 10,161 sq ft (943.98 sq metres) of land, was bought by Lim on Oct 25 last year for RM2.8mil.

According to Shabudin, the market value of the property was between RM6mil and RM6.5mil.

Lim then threw a challenge to Shabudin the next day for a one on one "Seek Truth from Facts" meeting at his office in Komtar on Sunday.

This allegation had also attracted the attention of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), who said that a fresh investigation paper will be filed against him.

To this, Lim called for the anti-graft body to expedite the investigation so he could prove that there were no elements of corrupt practices in the purchase.

He also claimed that the purchase was made through an open tender, and on willing seller-willing buyer basis.