Politics & not public interest, has always been priority of Umno-led BN govt

Guan Eng says public interest priority in Penang, not politics

By Debra Chong

April 03, 2011

Lim: Putting public interest first ahead of political interest has always been the governing creed of the Penang PR state government.

GEORGE TOWN, April 3 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today public interest and not politics is his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) administration’s motto, tossing out the likelihood that the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition could win back the state in the next polls.

But the first-term CM said the state PR would not rest on its laurels and would work redouble its efforts to improve service and counter the BN’s challenge.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who had dropped in on the island state yesterday, declared the BN would wrest back Penang in the coming general elections, anticipated to be called later this year ahead of its 2013 due date.

Najib, who is also BN president, told reporters that during his day-long walkabout, many locals especially small-time traders had complained of discrimination by the ruling PR state government in business and economic terms, as well as being sidelined for facilities, compared to when BN was in power.

“Putting public interest first ahead of political interest has always been the governing creed of the Penang PR state government,” Lim said in a statement today, refuting allegations of bias.

He said the Penang government treats and enforces the laws equally, and pointed to the state’s booming economy, which he said had lifted investments to a record high of RM12.2 billion topping the national chart and created more jobs.

“The Penang PR state government will not compete with the federal government in improving the lives of the people as long as there is a public benefit,” he added.

Lim repeated his previous stance yesterday that his administration would willingly work with Putrajaya so long as the public benefits.

“That is the principal reason why the Penang state government shelved our completed Penang Blueprint for Industrial Masterplan 2011-2015 in favour of the proposed Greater Penang Masterplan by the federal government,” he stressed.