PENANG, Nov 20(Bernama) -- The Penang state executive council has agreed to declassify the minutes of meetings relating to the status of a piece of land to be developed by PDC Heritage Hotel Sdn Bhd (PHH).

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.

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

The minutes would be distributed to the media tomorrow, he said, adding that it showed the Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) courage in the face of the truth.

Earlier, Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad had accused Lim of giving the assembly wrong information by saying 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 said the exco meeting also approved the appointment of Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) secretary Patahiyah Ismal, 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 on Monday to carry out the duties of MPPP president while Tan was on leave.