In the midst of mounting controversy surrounding the Byram Industrial Park deal between Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and UMECH Land Sdn Bhd, a call for transparency and accountability has reverberated through Penang's political landscape. Former Deputy Chief Minister II, P. Ramasamy, has urged Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who also serves as the PDC chairman, to suspend the deal and launch a thorough investigation into the matter.
Ramasamy's impassioned plea for corrective action came during a press conference held at Wisma Tamilar Kural Malaysia in Seberang Perai. He emphasized that, despite the ongoing controversy, there is still an opportunity for Chow to rectify the situation and uphold the principles of good governance.
"At this critical juncture," Ramasamy asserted, "Chow must acknowledge the missteps in the land deal and take decisive action to address the concerns of the public."
The former Perai assemblyman argued that a suspension of the deal is necessary to ensure that justice is served and to safeguard the interests of the state. He also called for the suspension of those within PDC who were involved in the deal, asserting that the state had potentially been shortchanged in the transaction.
Ramasamy pointed to the myriad of questions that have arisen regarding the deal, emphasizing that Chow can no longer afford to blindly defend it. To do so, Ramasamy argued, would only make the situation more untenable as public scrutiny intensifies.
Central to the controversy is the nature of the discussions that took place in a subcommittee meeting on November 28th of the previous year. Chow had previously stated that this subcommittee, comprising the Deputy Chief Minister I, Deputy Chief Minister II, Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain, and Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon, had discussed the Byram Industrial Park deal. However, Ramasamy, echoing statements made jointly with Lee, refuted this characterization.
Ramasamy clarified that the subcommittee meeting of November 28th was not intended as a due diligence exercise for selling the land to UMECH Construction Sdn Bhd. Instead, he asserted that it was merely an effort to gather further information from the company. Importantly, the subcommittee did not make any recommendations to sell the land to UMECH, Ramasamy stressed.
A central point of contention raised by Ramasamy is the divergence between discussions with UMECH Construction and the finalized land deal with UMECH Land Sdn Bhd. Furthermore, Ramasamy alleged that Sunway Group had acquired 70% of UMECH Land before the Byram Industrial Park deal with PDC was executed, a fact of which the state government, Chow, and PDC were purportedly unaware.
"The sale of the 559 acres of land in Byram at RM26.53 per sq ft," Ramasamy contended, "is significantly below the market value, which my sources estimate at approximately RM80 per sq ft." This discrepancy raises concerns about whether the state is receiving fair compensation for the land.
Ramasamy also emphasized that this land was initially acquired decades ago for public purposes, with PDC tasked with its development, rather than its sale to private entities for profit.
The controversy surrounding the direct award of the Byram Industrial Park project to UMECH Land by PDC was initially raised by the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC). Its president, Datuk Seri Hong Yeam Wah, questioned why the deal had not undergone an open tender process and alleged that the land was sold to UMECH for RM646.02 million, well below its market value.
In response to the PCCC's claims, Chief Minister Chow contended that the project had been awarded to UMECH after a business matching exercise at EXPO Dubai 2020.
The mounting tensions culminated in a joint statement issued by Ramasamy and Lee, in which they accused Chow of providing misleading information regarding the November 28th subcommittee meeting. In defense, Chow cited numerous PDC Board of Directors meetings held between August 2022 and April 2023, insisting that the subcommittee's meeting on November 28th was part of the due diligence process.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the people of Penang await a resolution that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and the equitable use of public assets. The outcome of this dispute will undoubtedly shape the future of development and governance in the region, highlighting the importance of thorough investigations and responsible decision-making in the public interest.
Reference: Ramasamy tells under-fire Kon Yeow to suspend the Byram Industrial Park deal | Malay Mail
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