We are fair, says Guan Eng

GEORGE TOWN (Feb 7, 2011): The Penang government insists it has been fair in its administration to all races, saying its actions and policies are victims of misreporting by certain quarters.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today pointed to the state’s open tender policy made via an online system, and its allocations for all vernacular, Islamic and mission schools as examples of its impartial style of governance.

"Our open tender system has liberated all contractors," he said. "Now there is no need to have political cables as all you need is a computer cable to compete."

He also said that the fact that most of the contracts were awarded to Malay companies showed that Malays could compete without using crutches.

Those who won the did so on basis of their quality, costs, international standards and other specifications, he told a press conference at his office.

On enforcement against illegal traders, Lim said the state had taken action against more non-Malays than Malays but this was not reported by certain parties.

"Once when we took action against a Chinese stall, it was reported that we were victimising a Malay business. This was even though the stall sold liquor," he said.

Muhyiddin had in his speech at the Barisan Nasional (BN) state Chinese New Year open house on Sunday openly chastised Lim to be fair to everyone regardless of race. Lim was an invited guest at the event.

Muhyiddin, who is also BN deputy president, had also refuted claims that the state was left out of the overall development plans of the country.

He had pointed as an example assertions made by Minister in the Prime Minister’ Department, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, that 10 out of the 12 National Key Economic Areas Projects by the BN federal government would focus on the development of Penang.

In reply, Lim said that when the 19 Entry Points Projects (EPP) involving RM67 billion in investments were unveiled last month, not one was located in Penang.

"Even though Malaysia has 13 states and Federal Territories, Penang did not even get one project. We hope this can be rectified," Lim said.


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