Press Statement by Teng on Tang Hak Ju being labled as 'Land Scam'

Press conference by Penang Barisan Nasional Working Committee chairman and Penang Gerakan chief Dato Dr Teng Hock Nan

May 16, 2011

Penang Barisan Nasional working committee chairman Dato Dr Teng Hock Nan today urged the state government to focus on collecting more information and evidence to set aside a High Court award to Tang Hak Ju over a land case.

Dr Teng said instead of continuing to label the case as a “scam” when “there is no scam” as explicitly stated in the contents of the White Paper, the state government should take appropriate action to set aside the case or to reduce the award’s amount.

Dr Teng, who is also Penang Gerakan chief, said the White Paper, which was tabled and adopted in the State Assembly sitting last week, had stated that there was a technical mistake and negligence or an irresponsible action on the part of two government officers.

“According to the White Paper, new evidence has also been found to show that Tang could have prior knowledge of land ownership which he did not disclose to the previous state government. Hence the State Assembly decided to re-file the case to set aside the High Court award which amounts to RM40mil including interest. We urge the state government to collect more information and do whatever is necessary,” said Dr Teng at a press conference at the Penang Gerakan Headquarters. With him were acting state opposition leader and Teluk Bahang Assemblyman Datuk Dr Hilmi Yahya, Penang MIC chief, Senator Dato P. K. Subbaiyah, Penang Wanita Gerakan chief Ng Siew Lai, Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong, and other BN state leaders.

Dr Teng also said that as Tang’s case was still pending in the Appeals’ Court, there should be more efforts to fortify the state’s case so as to protect the people’s interest.

Dr Hilmi said it was unfair of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to mislead the people by continuing to term the case as a “scam.”

On being asked by a reporter whether BN will take legal action against the Chief Minister, Dr Teng said “we have been under great pressure by our colleagues. However we want the CM to be more constructive and productive in his office rather than to focus on legal tussle. We believe we can win and compensation will come from the state’s coffer which belongs to the people. At this stage we put aside this idea but don’t push us too far.”

Dr Teng also said the Barisan Nasional had not used the term “scam” or “scandal” on the award of 1,500 housing units to the developer of sPice project and of the failed “King of Tennis” tournament.