Guan Eng: Penang Umno leaders cutting their nose to spite their face

Guan Eng: Penang Umno leaders cutting their nose to spite their face
Posted by kasee
Saturday, 15 March 2008, MT

Opalyn Mok

PENANG (March 14, 2008): Penang Umno leaders' proposal to the federal government to withdraw funding for all mega-projects in Penang is tantamount to cutting their nose to spite their face, said Penang Chief Minister (CM) Lim Guan Eng.

Lim said it is obvious their proposal is an act of revenge and that they have not seriously thought it out before making such proposals.

"They should respect the people's decision. If they do not respect the people's decision, I feel that it does not fulfill our democratic aspirations anymore and they also do not respect the constitution which clearly stated that the people's decision must be respected," he said.

He said the Umno leaders' proposal is an immediate knee-jerk reaction which is not appropriate and could lead to the downfall of Penang and ultimately the country.

"These (type of) Umno leaders ... I don't know what to say. Everyone can make suggestions but have they thought it out before making such proposals?"

"If this is the way to seek revenge, then I suppose the state government could also do the same towards those who do not support the state government but we will not do such things because we want to be fair to all," he said.

However, Lim feels that Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will not take such irresponsible steps.

Even though the state has fallen out of the Barisan Nasional (BN)'s hands, he said the Prime Minister is still the Prime Minister for all Malaysians, including Penangites.

"Furthermore, he is a Penangite himself and this is his home state," he said.

Lim added that the BN still received 51% percent of the votes in Malaysia and he posed a question asking the Prime Minister if he wanted to only represent the 51% in Malaysia or 100%.

"It just does not make sense if he only wants to be a PM for the 51%. Then who will be the PM for the remaining 49% Malaysians? Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim?" he asked.

Gerakan also does not agree with Umno's proposal as the party's acting president and former CM Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon issued a statement saying that the mega projects are crucial for the future economy and quality of life for Penang and its neighbouring states.

"Major infrastructure projects for Penang such as the second Penang bridge, the Penang Outer Ring Road, Monorail and public transport system, expansion of airport and port as promised by the federal government under the BN should continue for the benefit of the people," he said in the statement.

Koh said the successful implementation of those projects will ensure that Penang will continue to grow as the hub for the Northern Corridor Economic Region and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT).

"Gerakan appeals to the federal government to continue and to expedite the implementation of these projects," he said.

At the same time, Koh also adviced the DAP leaders of the state government to avoid engaging in political rhetorics.

"They should adopt a constructive and positive approach to sustain inter-ethnic harmony and social stability," he said.

He urged them to take steps to provide a conducive environment to ensure the smooth implementation of all projects for continued economic development for Penang.

Lim and Koh were both responding to a statement by the state Opposition leaders, namely Umno, led by Datuk Azhar Ibrahim yesterday evening who had called for the funding of the projects to be withdrawn.

Azhar had also called for RapidPenang bus services to be stopped and "given" to other states that needed it.

"The BN government has promised all these to the people but the people had rejected the BN government by voting for the DAP and PKR. So, we won't give them all these mega-projects. Let them see what DAP and PKR can do for them," he had reportedly said. - THE SUN