‘Keep all mega projects’

‘Keep all mega projects’

Posted by kasee
Saturday, 15 March 2008

PENANG: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng found an unlikely ally in his political foe Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon when both leaders urged the Federal Government not to scrap all major projects in the state.

Lim said state Umno leaders should help further develop Penang and make it prosper.

He added that if Penang failed, the entire country would fail too.

Lim was speaking to reporters after a dialogue with Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers northern region members in Komtar here yesterday.

He was asked to comment on a statement by state Umno leaders who threatened to call for the cancellation of Federal Govern-ment projects in Penang.

Lim urged them not to “cut their noses to spite their faces,” adding that if they wanted to punish the people for voting in the Opposition, “then you may end up punishing Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Kelantan and the Federal Territory as well.”

“They should also understand that the Prime Minister is not the prime minister of one political party but the prime minister of all Malaysians,” he said.

Lim stressed that both Selangor and Penang were Malaysia’s two key industrial regions.

Dr Koh, who is Gerakan acting president, appealed to the Federal Government to continue with the implementation of mega projects in the state although it was now ruled by Opposition parties.

“These infrastructure projects are crucial for the future economy and quality of life for Penang and our neighbouring states,” he said in a press statement.

Among the projects he mentioned were the Second Penang Bridge, Penang Outer Ring Road, monorail and the public transport system.

“Successful implementation of these projects will also ensure that Penang will continue to grow as the hub of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) and the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT),” Dr Koh said.

Dr Koh advised the current DAP-led administration to refrain from engaging in political rhetoric.

“DAP leaders should instead adopt a constructive and positive approach to sustain inter-ethnic harmony and social stability,” he said. - STAR