In a statement today, Chow said this concept started when Lim was Penang chief minister and was continued by his successor, Koh Tsu Koon.
PDC continued to turn plots of land into industrial, commercial and housing zones, he said.
Chow said hence the argument that PDC has since become a “land sales agency” did not hold water as the state agency’s core business has been to develop townships and industrial areas from day one.
He said PDC’s success over the years in developing townships such as Bayan Baru and Seberang Jaya, among others, has been Gerakan’s poster of success in the state, which enabled them to win several general elections in the past.
“Through these development projects, we have created thousands of job opportunities and income for the people and achieved high economic growth.
“This strategy has been used successfully to transform Penang from a sleepy fishing village into a vibrant industrial and manufacturing state.
“As such, I am amazed by questions posed now by Gerakan’s Oh Tong Keong. Is he suggesting that we should keep these land banks and stop any development because we do not want to sell them to potential investors?
“If we were to use Oh’s logic, Penang would still be the sleepy fishing village it once was.”
Chow said PDC is now developing Batu Kawan, on the mainland, into an industrial, commercial and housing and mixed development powerhouse.
Earlier today, Oh, who is Gerakan deputy president, said he was concerned that PDC was becoming a “land sales agency”, when in the past, it was an agency that built affordable homes, among others.
He said after the Pakatan Rakyat government took over in 2008, a lot of government land was sold. He also demanded that Chow explain how much of PDC-owned land was sold during Pakatan’s 10-year tenure between 2008 and 2018.
Oh also said he continued to worry over PDC being put under the watch of the economic affairs ministry, asking Chow to “clarify” further what kind of “monitoring” will take place.
Chow had said on Wednesday that PDC was a body incorporated under the Penang government and would remain under its control despite monitoring by a federal ministry.
He said under the PDC Enactment 1971, there was a provision that a federal minister may give directions from time to time. The provision was made through an amendment to the law in 1974.
On Jan 17, the economic affairs ministry announced that it would take over 32 agencies across the country to “strengthen development planning” at the state, regional and national levels.