Dr Wee-Guan Eng trade barbs over of sale of Malaysian consulate building in Hong Kong

Dr Wee Ka Siong (left) and Lim Guan Eng.

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Lim Guan Eng traded barbs in Parliament on Tuesday (April 2), over the sale of the Malaysian consulate building in Hong Kong, with both asking each other to resign from their positions.

Dr Wee, who is Ayer Hitam MP, asked the Finance Minister to clarify his earlier statement over the sale of the property.

The MCA president said the property had been evaluated by industry players in Hong Kong, who valued it at HK$1.6bil (RM832,300) and not RM1.6bil, which Lim had disclosed in the Dewan previously.

"The offer was for HK$1.6bil, don't try to equate our currency with Hong Kong dollars.

"HK$1.6bil is equivalent to RM800mil.

"I would praise and do a standing ovation for the Finance Minister, if he manages to sell it at twice the market value," said Dr Wee.

He also said that Lim should resign if he made a mistake because there is a stark difference between the value of the two currencies.

Lim, when winding up the debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill, said that the Ayer Hitam MP had joined his "extremist friends" in asking him to resign.

"I was asked to resign over a sale approved by the previous Barisan Nasional administration, approved by YB Pekan (Datuk Seri Najib Razak).

"Under the Pakatan Harapan government, we are doing it via open tender and we will be able to get higher value for it.

"Do you think a Finance Minister does not know the difference between Hong Kong dollars and Ringgit?" said Lim.

He insisted that he would show the RM1.6bil offer letter for the building, which was higher than the RM1.1bil offered through direct negotiations before.

"I will show you the letter tomorrow (April 3)."

Dr Wee, however, insisted that Lim produce the letter in the Dewan immediately.

Lim then accused Dr Wee of making baseless allegations and asked him to resign instead.

This led to a shouting match between several Pakatan and opposition lawmakers.

Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon then managed to restore order in the House and asked Lim to continue with his reply.

On March 26, Lim brought up the issue over the sale of the Hong Kong property, accusing Najib of approving the sale of the property through direct negotiations.

He added that the new government reviewed the deal in the best interests of the nation and put the building up for sale through an open tender process.