Penang CM blasted for running down Malaysia

NGO slams Guan Eng for washing dirty linen at international forum

SEBERANG JAYA: A non-government organisation today slammed Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for often condemning the country and the Barisan Nasional federal government when he was abroad.

Sensible and Ethical Malaysians United Team (Semut) president Huan Cheng Guan demanded explanation from Lim on his politically-charged speeches frequently running down the country’s investment climate and government competency in international forums.

He called on Lim to publicly show a detailed report on how each point raised in his speech at a Penang diaspora in Hong Kong last week can boost business confidence and attract potential investors and business partners to Malaysia.

“Failing which, Lim must be punished to personally bear the cost for the foreign trip,” said Huan in a statement here today.

He wondered on whether Lim knew a special formula unknown to Harvard Business School  to increase the circular flow of income and offer solutions to all economic problems by running down one’s own nation.

Huan said it was shocking to see a state leader on an official trade mission in foreign land running down his motherland instead of highlighting salient points to increase business confidence of potential investors.

Citing the Hong Kong speech, which was posted in his blog, Huan slammed the Bagan MP for accusing the Barisan Nasional federal government of being penny wise, pound foolish, corrupted, debt ridden, incompetent and playing up racial, religious, and extremist sentiments.

Huan blasted Lim for condemning the federal government on its fiscal policies, fuel price hike, debts and education policies before foreigners.

Huan alleged that Lim had also gave an impression to his international audience in Hong Kong and China that Malaysia was not a safe place by questioning the competence of police and stating that only 10% of the force was involved in investigation work.

“What is the point of going on an official mission to Hong Kong only to declare to the audience that Malaysia is less attractive, less safe and less competitive?

“The Chief Minister must explain on why he persisted in running down and shaming our country by giving public and international airing to such issues.

“Any sane person would not wash dirty linen before foreign public,” Huan, formerly Batu Kawan MP, said in a statement today.

Guan Eng shames Malaysia

Huan said Lim was accompanied by an official state delegation to Hong Kong, which coincided with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) investment mission to Hong Kong and China led by Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Mustapa Mohamed.

Huan noted that in Lim’s speech on Sep 5, he had said: “Many high technology knowledge-intensive foreign investors lament about the poor and declining quality of our workforce at all levels, especially the poor command of English. With BN’s fixation on mediocrity instead of a culture of excellence, on political quotas rather than performance and on empty rhetoric rather than concrete action, Malaysia risks being left behind by not only high-tech foreign investors but also our best talents leaving to other countries like Hong Kong.”

Huan pointed out that Lim had also said that “the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak can only convince the public of his sincerity and necessity of raising RON 95 petrol prices by 20 sen to save annual subsidy costs of RM3.3 billion by also implementing open competitive tenders and fighting corruption which would save RM51 billion annually. Without accompanying measures, that demonstrates the federal government’s commitment against corruption, the public would easily see through such fake sincerity and counterfeit necessity to cut costs.”

Huan said Lim’s speech was a negative introduction for for an official trade mission to attract foreign investors.

He said Lim highlighted to foreigners on graft issues in the country and even accused the federal government of fake sincerity and counterfeit necessity to cut costs.

He asked on whether such a speech harvest positive effects to justify the use of state funds for an official delegation to Hong Kong and China to attract various potential investors and business partners.

He also asked on how could Lim’s ‘enlightened revelations’ increase the international competitiveness of Penang and the country.

“This is public shaming of Malaysia in the most unethical way! Why?

“Increasing business confidence of potential investors in Malaysia? My foot!

“Would any sane investor want to invest in Penang or Malaysia after hearing this from a state leader?” asked Huan.

He said Lim must now justify the use of state funds to go abroad with a delegation and then to run down the government in a foreign land when the original mission was to attract potential investors and business partners to the country.

He said Lim should personally be made to reimburse the cost of the trade mission if he failed to show positive results of foreign direct investment (FDI) in flow from the visit.

“That would be first class demonstration of competency, accountability and transparency that he expounds so religiously,” said Huan.