For those who claim that the Penang state government is relying solely on selling off all state land in Penang to generate revenue, this is untrue as BN has sold 35 times more land than PR and yet received less money. This issue has been explained many times even before the 2013 general elections but the BN-controlled mass media have never published our replies allowing irresponsible BN leaders to regurgitate their lies serially every year.
Fortunately the people of Penang can distinguish truth from lies and accept the fact that BN has sold at least 3,661 acres of land for RM 1.0586 billion as compared to PR selling only 106.1 acres for a higher return of RM 1.1102 billion. (see table below)
BN sold 3,661 acres of land but even though BN sold 35 times more land than PR’s 106.1 acres, PR got more money because PR’s land sales were conducted by open competitive tender. This fact of PR conducting open competitive tender was one of the reasons why PR was returned with the largest mandate in Penang’s history with 68% of the popular vote in the 2013 general election.
From the sale of 106 acres by open tender generating RM 1.102 billion, the Penang PR state government has allocated RM500 million Public and Affordable Housing Scheme(PAHS) Fund to build over 20,000 units of affordable housing throughout the 5 districts of Penang. This RM 500 million PAHS Fund is the largest allocated by any state government in Malaysia, and the state government is willing to increase the allocation where necessary.
Some of the public housing is being designed by Singapore government’s Housing Development Board(HDB) so that the poor can also enjoy quality living. Penang is also the first pioneer in Shared Ownership Scheme(SOS) to help the poor who could not get 100% bank loans to buy their houses through the state government giving them 30% of the purchase price as interest free loans. At the same time, the state government has also purchased flats for rental-purchase in Seberang Perai Selatan. Again it is untrue that PR is not building houses for the poor.
Comparison for Selling of Land in Penang ( BN vs PR)
BN Government Sale of Land From Early Nineties To 2008
| Land size | Location | RM psf | Total selling price |
| 980 acres | Tanjong Tokong | RM 1 psf | RM 42.7 million |
| 325 acres | Jelutong Expressway | RM 20 psf | RM 325 million |
| 750 acres | Batu Kawan ( sold to Abad Naluri) | RM3.24 psf | RM 106 million |
| 1606 acres | Butterworth (sold to Rayston Consortium Sdn Bhd) | RM 8.40 psf | RM584.9 million |
3661acres(Total) for RM 1.0586 billion
PR State Government Sale of Land After 2008
| Land size | Location | RM psf | Total selling price |
| 1.1 acres | Jalan Zainal Abidin ( or Taman Manggis) | RM 232 psf | RM 10.2 million |
| 105 acres | Bayan Mutiara | RM 240 psf | RM 1.1 billion |
106.1acres(Total) for RM 1.1102 billion