Guan Eng blames BN for investors shying away

SEBERANG PERAI (Sept 21, 2008) : Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng slammed Finance Minister II Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop for making a statement that Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent actions have slowed the flow of investments into the country.

"He shouldn't blame others. Instead, he should look at the problems faced by Barisan Nasional's Federal Government and study why foreign investors are not coming into the country," he said.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, added that foreign investors are coming in to the state as scheduled, and will make announcements about their investments in the weeks to come.

"They (foreign investors) want a clean, competent, accountable and transparent government, which the BN Federal Government cannot provide. They have no confidence in them."

"However, we (state government) offer a CAT (Competent, Accountable, Transparency) government. We want to assure and ensure investors that there is no corruption here, that investors can do their business here without giving 'duit kopi' (bribe) anymore. You just do your business and do your best," he said.

In an unrelated matter, Lim announced that the state government will construct a badminton academy here for Penangites .

The community project is currently in the pipeline as there are developers who have expressed interest in constructing the academy. It is said the building will house at least 10 badminton courts for the use of the public.

"We want to build this place to provide training to talented youngsters in the state," he said, adding that the academy will be built in a place accessible to the public by public transport.

"This government does not take money, instead it gives it back to the public," Lim said with a smile.

He said this in his speech at the opening of the DAP's Bagan Service Centre in Jalan Raja Uda here today.

Also present at the launch were Deputy Chief Minister Prof Dr. P. Ramasamy Local Government, Public Works, Utilities and Transport committee chairman Lim Hock Seng, Traffic Management and Environment committee chairman and state DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, Youth and Sports and Women, Health and Welfare and Caring Society committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, Family and Community Development committee chairperson Lydia Ong Kok Fooi, Housing, Town and Country Planning committee chairperson Wong Hon Wai, Tourism Development, Cutlure, Arts and Heritage committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang, Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng, Bagan Dalam state assemblyman A. Tanasekharan, Pulau Tikus state assemblyman Koay Teng Hai, and Komtar state assemblyman Ng Wei Aik.
Updated: 05:54PM Sun, 21 Sep 2008 by Bernard Cheah