GEORGE TOWN: Barisan Nasional today challenged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to show courage by admitting that foreign direct investments (FDIs) in Penang had fallen sharply in the past four years.
Addressing a press conference at the Gerakan office here, Penang BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow said the FDIs had dropped from RM10.451 billion in 2010 to RM1.794 billion last year.
He contrasted Lim’s alleged tendency to hide the truth with what he said was the transparent attitude of Gerakan’s Koh Tsu Koon, who was Penang’s chief minister when BN was in power.
He said Koh used to readily disclose FDI figures every year but Lim, in an attempt to paint an impressive picture, had totalled up the 2010-to-2013 figures to show RM20.517 billion.
“Koh would admit if there was a drop and acknowledge when there was a hike,” Teng said. “Lim should emulate Koh in telling the truth.”
He said Lim was misleading the public in a ruse to justify his administration’s project to expand the Penang International Airport (PIA) with two runways and a cargo and maintenance hub.
Referring to Lim’s allegation that he opposed the airport expansion plan, Teng accused the Chief Minister of deliberately misquoting him.
“I never said I opposed the project,” he said. “I only said that Lim must justify why he needed a two-runaway airport. I only asked Lim to produce the correct facts and figures.
“He is putting words into my mouth.”
He claimed that the plan was already in the pipeline when Koh was in power.
Teng also criticised Lim for meeting Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Idris Jala over the PIA project, saying he should have instead consulted the Transport Minister or the Finance Minister.
“Why should one see a dentist for an eyesore?” he said.
