Team spirit: Chow holding a copy of a newspaper containing Tan’s remarks while the state executive councillors look on in George Town.
GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow will take legal action against prominent businessman Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping for making defamatory remarks against him.
This was the unanimous decision made during the state executive council meeting yesterday.
Tan, who is Penang Chinese Chambers of Commerce (PCCC) life honorary president, purportedly uttered the defamatory remarks over a land deal in Batu Kawan on Wednesday.
“The exco decision was made based on Tan’s remarks published in both online and print media, which were deemed humiliating and degrading to the Chief Minister.
“The legal action will be handled by the lawyers,” said Chow in a statement.
On Oct 3, the PCCC raised questions about the selling price of the 226.2ha plot of Penang Development Corporation-owned (PDC) land near the former Byram estate in south Seberang Prai.
The PCCC alleged that the current market price of the industrial land was RM80 per sq ft and questioned the sales price and the four-year term payment.
They also questioned why PDC had sold the land to a private company without an open tender.On Monday, the PDC board announced that it had decided to terminate the joint venture agreement with UMECH Land following calls to suspend the controversial sale of the land.
Chow, at another press conference earlier, said it was untrue that he did not respond to queries on the matter.
Following the latest development, the PCCC secretariat, when contacted, said it was too soon to comment as it had not seen the legal letter yet.
