Umno Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahaya said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s invitation to him to meet in Komtar today was a ‘cheap gimmick” which showed the CM’s immaturity.

Shahbudin had raised issues on Lim's purchase of a house in Jalan Pinhorn and the sale of state land in Taman Manggis to a private developer.

Shabudin said Lim appeared to be so worried that he challenged him to a face to face meeting in Komtar to seek the truth.

“Why does he need me to meet him face to face? Why does he need to debate with me? Why does he need to hold a coffee break with me?” Shabudin asked at a press conference in Umno’s building in Tasek Gelugor today.

“Sorry, I am not interested in having a coffee break with him.

“I am only interested in him cooperating with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on the alleged scandal involving the purchase of his house and sale of state government land in Taman Manggis,” Shabuddin stressed.

Divert attention

Shabudin said Lim tried to divert attention of the public from the issue that he raised in Parliament by asking him for a face to face meeting.

He added that Lim intended to label him “a coward” if he declined.

He said the public would then forget the real issue involving CM's house and Taman Manggis, and that he has to answer to the MACC.

Shabudin said Lim planned to drag the issue out of Parliament and take it outside so that it becomes a personal matter.

“I hope he answers my claims in Parliament. He should behave more maturely and allow the authorities to investigate because they have the jurisdiction to probe, evaluate and decide on the issue.

“Even in Parliament, I did not ask him to give me any clarification. I asked the MACC and the Finance Ministry to look for answers,” he added.

During the press conference, Shabudin did not allow any questions to be fielded.

Shabudin had accused Lim of buying a two storey bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn for RM2.8 million below market value.

Shabudin also claimed the purchase of the house in 2015 had links to the 2012 sale of a state government piece of land in Taman Manggis to a

However, Lim has denied the allegations, saying he was prepared to answer Shabudin in Parliament but the latter must repeat his claims outside, so Lim could sue him to clear his name.