Penang legislative speaker Abdul Halim Hussein has denied outright that he had personal interest in the development of a theme park in Teluk Bahang.

Abdul Halim said this is a "malicious slander and hypocrisy" from Umno leaders and accused the party of not being sensitive to the plight of the people in the area.

The state PKR vice-chief added that the disparaging remarks from state Umno deputy chief Musa Sheikh Fadzir was a "dangerous message" to developers.

NONE "I deny any personal interest in this project meant to slander, tarnish and disparage my name as House speaker," said Abdul Halim ( left ) at a press conference today.

"When in office, I believe that anything we do should be done to benefit the people. That is our responsibility," he added.

Abdul Halim said the developer who bid and won the project did it via open tender, widely published in the press.

He added that his 2008 election manifesto, when he was a PKR candidate for Teluk Bahang, had pointed out a dire need for a new tourism icon in the area.

This, he stressed, was to promote better benefits and employment for the people within the constituency.

People's interest at heart

"My interest was merely to see the people of Teluk Bahang get jobs and that there is a new engine of growth within the area," said Abdul Halim, who is also state PKR vice-president.

"When the developer chose Teluk Bahang, I was happy even though the area belonged to the Opposition.

Musa had said that Abdul Halim had an equity in the project, saying he would reveal the proof of the matter, which the latter challenged.

Abdul Halim said he would take legal action against Musa if he fails to provide proof within 48 hours, by noon on Sunday.

teluk bahang escape theme park He also wants Musa to retract and apologise for his baseless allegations.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who accompanied Abdul Halim today confirmed the latter does not have any interest in the project scheduled to be launched next month.

Lim said Musa was probably hitting back at Abdul Halim for revealing that he and another Ummo leader were involved in selling a plot of land in Kampung Terang, Balik Pulau, to a private developer.

Musa and state Umno election strategist Omar Faudzar were alleged to have reaped a big profit of RM5 million for selling the land previously owned by about 30 villagers, three months after the purchase.

Blacklist charge denied

NONE The two senior state Umno leaders, however, said they had to dispose of the land as their company had been blacklisted by the state government, which Lim ( left ) had denied.

He said Musa's wild allegations are baseless and according to all bidding information, Abdul Halim's name was not involved.

"It was published even in the New Straits Times , it was an open tender and the bidder won with the best price and Abdul Halim's name was not involved.

"But maybe one day they will say Abdul Halim knows the developer. This is the dirty game played by the BN. It looks like we in office should  not know anyone," Lim added.

"The most important thing for everything to be based on good principles," he stressed.