The parcel of land in Bayan Mutiara next to Pantai Jerejak was reclaimed by the previous Penang Barisan Nasional state government with the main purpose of benefiting the people from all sectors of society, said Penang Barisan Nasional Working Committee chairman Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan.

Dr Teng said the land belonged to the people and it is to serve the needs of the people including providing housing, business opportunities and government facilities to the people.

“The responsibility is not about getting the best value for the sale of the land but to serve the needs of the people from all walks of life as well as to provide a check and balance on land and property prices in Penang,” he said in a statement, when commenting on the Bayan Mutiara controversy.

Dr Teng, who is also Penang Gerakan chief, said as the state government owns lots of land in the state, it can provide a “check and balance” in case the price of private land and property goes up too high.

He said the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) should take up the responsibility to develop the piece of land in Bayan Mutiara, just like a similar project called the D Residence on an adjacent piece of land, which was also done by the PDC. The latter project had benefited the needy groups.

Dr Teng added that Penang Umno chief Dato’ Zainol Abidin Osman had earlier brought up the Bayan Mutiara land sale issue on behalf of Umno and the Barisan Nasional in Penang.

The Bayan Mutiara controversy erupted after the state agreed to sell the 41.5ha land to a private developer for RM1.07bil.

Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan called on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to live up to his promise to be open and transparent and reveal details of the land sale.

Lim had said that he had called for an open tender regarding the sale. However, Ivory Properties Bhd, which bought the piece of land, in its announcement to Bursa Malaysia clearly stated that the price was derived from negotiation between Ivory, the Chief Minister Incorporated and PDC.