GEORGE TOWN (Dec 18): The Penang government is seeking the consent of two major development companies to waive the confidentiality clauses in land reclamation agreements signed with the previous Barisan Nasional administration.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said letters were sent yesterday to IJM subsidiary Jelutong Development Sdn Bhd and Eastern and Oriental (E&O) Berhad subsidiary Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd, seeking their consent for the documents to be revealed.

Jelutong Development is reclaiming land off the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway while Tanjung Pinang has already reclaimed land for its completed Seri Tanjung Pinang phase one project in Tanjung Tokong. It will soon begin reclaiming land off Gurney Drive for phase two.

The agreements for the land reclamation projects were signed during BN's time and contained confidentiality clauses that now prevent the current Pakatan Harapan administration from declassifying the documents of the deals.

"I have said that the state government has been advised by the state legal advisor to respect the confidentiality clauses and the only thing we can do is seek the companies' consent for the documents to be revealed.

"I have been slammed, criticised and challenged to write to the companies for their consent... but that has been done.

"Why blame us for deals made during the previous administration? Why don't they explain the deals and how they benefit the people?" Lim said as copies of the letters were distributed to reporters today.

"I cannot force them to give consent. If we proceed to declassify the documents without their consent, we will be sued."

Lim assured however that the state government would declassify the agreement documents for land reclamation projects inked by his administration.

To date, the DAP-led Penang government has approved reclamations of 60 acres (24.28ha) in Bayan Mutiara and Bayan Bay.

"We will reveal those documents next year," he said.