Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is expected to give a statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) next week on the issue of the purchase of a RM2.8-million bungalow in Jalan Pinhorn and the sale of land in Taman Manggis.

Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said DAP Legal Bureau chief Gobind Singh Deo had contacted the MACC to arrange an interview soon.

The chief minister, other state leaders and officers of the state government and its agencies would extend full cooperation to the MACC in its investigation of the issue, he told a press conference here today.

Chow also said that the party meeting today, which Lim also attended, felt that it was not necessary for the chief minister to go on leave during the investigation.

Gobind Singh, who was also present at the press conference, said he was informed that the MACC needed some time to gather information before taking the statement from Lim.

READ: MACC to open investigation paper on Lim Guan Eng over bungalow

READ: Bungalow was bought on willing buyer-willing seller basis - Guan Eng

Lim's purchase of the bungalow in Jalan Pinhorn here erupted into a controversy after Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya raised the matter in the Dewan Rakyat, claiming that the purchase price was below the market value.

Shabudin asked the MACC to also investigate the sale of several pieces of land in Penang that had been allocated for housing for the hardcore poor.