Lim Guan Eng

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the decision would give a clear picture of the true purpose of changing the land title from leasehold to freehold.

Stating that the declassification was in-line with the state government's Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) principles, Lim said the move was not done because of pressure from the opposition.

"The PR government is doing what the Barisan Nasional government has not done, whether it is the previous state government or the Federal Government; which is to declassify meeting minutes," he said.

"After the declassification of the minutes, the people will know more clearly the background relating to the decision on the land," he told a press conference here today after chairing the weekly state executive council meeting.

The minutes would be distributed to the media tomorrow, he said.

The move by the exco to declassify the minutes comes after Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad accused the chief minister misleading of the state legislative assembly when he said that the state government had not changed any land status from April to June this year when there were reports that it had approved applications to change the land status from leasehold to freehold.

Meanwhile, Lim also announced that the exco had approved the appointment of Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) secretary Patahiyah Ismail , 54, to act as MPPP president in place of Tan Cheng Chui who had opted for early retirement.

Tan, in a letter accompanied by a letter from a doctor on Oct 23 informed the the MPPP of his decision for early retirement effective March 1 next year due to declining health.

Lim said Patahiyah was scheduled to be sworn in as councillor on Monday to carry out the duties of MPPP president while Tan was on leave.

We don't want developments and programmes to be halted because Tan is on leave," he said.

"She would chair the full council meetings, One-Stop Centre (OSC) meetings and others," Lim added.

Lim, however, stressed that Patahiyah would not be acting president of the council at the moment.

"We cannot appoint an acting president because there is no vacancy yet. The president is only on leave," he said.

Lim stressed that a formal appointment will be made in March 1, 2010 once Tan's retirement takes in effect, adding that the excos are still in the midst of looking forTan's successor.

Patahiyah, who was present at the press conference, thanked the state government for giving her the opportunity to carry out this responsibility.

"I am taking this heavy responsibility and promote the state government's aspiration through the CAT principle, in hopes of making Penang an international city," she said.