Lim: I've been attacked by media

MISQUOTED: Lim holds up a news report which, he said, misquoted him in its translation of the debate

GEORGE TOWN: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng feels he has been wronged by the media and is being attacked for his performance in last Saturday’s debate with MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

He criticised a “Barisan Nasional-owned media, in particular, a widely-circulated English daily controlled by the MCA", for having misquoted him in its translation.

“Yesterday (Sunday), I wrote to The Star executive editor and group chief editor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai that I can neither condone nor accept when The Star invents quotes I never used," Lim told reporters.

“Under the article, ‘What they said’, on page six of the Sunday paper, I was reported to have said during the debate: ‘We do not agree the prime minister must always be Malay because we want the people to decide'.

“As The Star is owned by MCA, I respect the right of the paper to present a partisan slant and biased report of the proceedings, but this quote attributed to me is false and untrue because no reference whatsoever was made by me on this issue during the debate."

Lim said the paper did not publish his letter but noted that it admitted its error, “somewhat reluctantly”, in yesterday’s print edition in which it published a clarification. Lim, who is also the chief minister, said theerror was repeated by The Star columnist Baradan Kuppusamy on Monday.

“In his column on page 24, titled ‘All hype but no climax’, he wrote: ‘Furthermore, he (Lim) said the Pakatan did not agree that only a Malay could be the prime minister, and that this should be put to the people to decide’.

“There is another lie in his column in which he said I only wanted a second debate in English or Bahasa Malaysia now to repair the damage from having a scarred reputation after the Mandarin debate." Lim said he had requested for the second round before the first debate.

“This is why we should have a 'live' telecast. It’s because people can see and hear what happened and not have the facts distorted and covered up," he said.

“I get hammered for things I never said. Whether I won or lost, we should let the people decide, but please don’t whitewash. Do right by me and withdraw the article and apologise." He said he welcomed a second debate, provided neutral and impartial treatment was given to both debaters.

“The debate should be a contest of ideas, ideals and principles that is healthy for the people and for democracy in the country," he said. On the Bayan Mutiara land sale controversy, Lim reiterated that Ivory Properties Group Bhd obtained the acquisition via open tender.

“This was further affirmed by the company, which issued a statement last week, saying it had won the bid via an open tender because they paid a higher price," he said.

“Where is Umno state chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman's and (Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club vice-chairman and Kota Belud MP) Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahalan’s proof that it was a negotiated deal? I said I would resign if they could prove it, but I think they should know what to do now.”

Lim said Ivory Properties was among the companies which tendered submissions to the Penang Development Corporation and it had offered the highest price.

“A consultant, Raine & Horne was engaged to oversee and ensure the exercise was independent," he said.

“We only asked Ivory Properties if they could sweeten the deal some more and that was to give us a full payment in five years instead of the standard eight years and they agreed, so it was not a negotiated tender.”

Lim said Ivory Properties, like all other interested parties, submitted their request before the Dec 31, 2010, closing date, and not on March 3 last year, as claimed.

Abdul Rahman first raised the issue by claiming the prime state-owned land was sold for a lower price compared to neighbouring plots.