Pua gives MCA 24 hours to repent, or else...

 

Laughing off MCA’s claim, DAP today urged MCA leaders involved in claiming the Selangor state government is involved in “a RM1 billion scandal” to “repent” or brace themselves for further embarrassment.

DAP publicity chief Tony Pua said that deputy minister Chua Tee Yong and Selangor MCA leaders who yesterday asserted that Selangor “overpaid” Talam Corporation Bhd for land in Bestari Jaya need to retract their statement within 24 hours, or they'll be proven wrong again.

“(MCA) should stop making a complete fool of themselves. This advice includes their latest claim that the Selangor government had overpaid for a piece of land from Talam.

“They have 24 hours to repent and withdraw their baseless accusations. If not I’ll hold another press conference at the same time tomorrow to shred to pieces their allegations that Selangor had ‘overpaid’ for land in the above debt recovery exercise, whether it is RM41 million or more,” he said.

Showing documents on the matter, Pua said that unlike Chua, who is still gathering information to answer Talam’s rebuttal, he already has information on hand to debunk MCA claims.

“The fact of the matter is, the Selangor state government had underpaid for the value of the land. We benefitted more. The complete reverse (of what MCA said) is true,” he hinted.

Yesterday, Chua (left), flanked by Selangor MCA leaders, had cited a report by an independent valuation company to support its claim, but had told media to confirm with the state that it had “paid” RM42 million more than the valuation - for the land

Meanwhile, commenting on the matter, DAP’s Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said that Chua’s “outburst” showed that MCA is clutching at straws in its attempt to attack Pakatan Rakyat governments.

“MCA is desperate and this is also reflected in their earlier attempt to discredit the Penang chief minister and DAP secretary-general (Lim Guan Eng),” he said regarding allegations of impropriety involving a female former staff member of the CM’s office.

“As far as the Pakatan governments are concerned, there is no such thing as monies of the people used to bail out companies,” he said.

When contacted, Talam said that it is currently drafting with its lawyers a response to Chua’s latest allegation on the Bestari Jaya land.

On Wednesday the company, now known as Trinity Corporation, issued a lengthy statement to explain how Chua, who had once served as a chief financial officer for a government linked-company, got it all wrong.

It also said that deal with Selangor was scrutinised by Bursa and the Securities Commission and given the all clear.