RM209m OR RM177m? GUAN ENG MUST HAVE THE GUTS TO EXPLAIN

When the captain of a fleet has a lot to hide from his crew, expect chaotic situation when they start giving out different directions. Such circumstances have now struck Penang DAP-led. Guan Eng as the head of administration appears to have lost control of his crew that ended up to differ each other.

The conflicting figures regarding the payments of the sea tunnel project cost consultation to Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd were discovered when statements made by DAP Padang Kota assemblyman Chow Kon Yeow and DAP Bagan Jermal assemblyman, Lim Hock Seng are shockingly different.

On last June 24, Kon Yeow said the payments made are reported as only RM177.5 million, whereas before it, on May 22, Hock Seng said the amount paid was RM209 million.

The discrepancy of these figures is also Penang DAP’s attempt to defend their arguments for Zenith Construction which is said to be 400 percent higher than the allowed scale.

It seems there is something hidden from public knowledge and how can this happened in the first place. Thus, the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng should come forward to explain the difference between the amount notified by the two DAP MPs.

He should know the truth and he ought to have the guts to come forward instantly to confirm the correct figure. When every day DAP and Guan Eng claimed that their administration practices transparency and upholds integrity in all respects and if they are wrong, dare to admit their mistakes.

There must be a mistake in one of the two figures or perhaps both are wrong. Thus the people of Penang have every right to know the correct answer. In this case, Guan Eng should not play his usual innocent dumb or even try to hold off certain hidden truth just to serve his own agenda.

On last 20 June, the Director of Strategic Communications Barisan Nasional Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan has demanded the Penang state government to justify their actions on the paid consultation costs for the construction of the three major tunnel projects which are 400 percent higher than the rates gazetted.

It is even more bizarre when the state government has made full payment while there are still other works related to the project that is yet to be completed.

This is what happens with DAP’s arrogance that they had appointed an external consulting firm when they have deliberately refused to cooperate with JKR. DAP claimed that JKR lacks in expertise but the fact is, JKR has proven to us when they have built roads across the nation without any hassle.

If the DAP government of Penang and Guan Eng is transparent in its administration, the disclosure of the real figure of payments to Zenith is a requirement And do not try to hide from the people’s knowledge.

If the Penang DAP government and Guan Eng are serious and committed to upholding transparency in their administration, the disclosure of the actual amount paid to Zenith is paramount. This is the only way to prove to Penangites that they walk the talk and Barisan Nasional is gravely wrong.

PRU14

PENANG IS INDISPUTABLE A FAILED STATE

Even after Gerakan Sec-Gen Datuk Liang Teck Meng’s numerous accusations and followed by Datuk Rahman Dahlan’s demands to answer DAP Penang ChiefMinister Lim Guan Eng has once again turned silent as a grave. 

Thus this is his unusual behaviour when he knew he has deceived Penangites and in particular the Chinese on Penang economic performance.Silence is golden but to Guan Eng, he has nothing evident to rebut but to agree with his detractors from Barisan Nasional. The bottom line for him is as long as the Chinese community, especially in Penang, their mindsets are deflected with wild accusations and unfounded statements.

The fact is, these are the troubles brewing Penang’s economy that is heading into a failed state that has been highlighted by Datuk Liang of Gerakan but was totally silenced by Guan Eng’s Penang Institute;

Penang suffered the lowest in history in their GDP growth rate and for the period between 2008-2015, Penang fell in 4th place among all states in Malaysia. Since Guan Eng took over the helm in Penang, the state’s record shows that it has the lowest median wage growth among the 16 states for the period 2010 to 2015 and was bypassed by Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Johor. 

This followed by the growth rate of Penang’s household income has recorded the 4th lowest among all states and territories since 2009 to 2015 and was intercepted by Johor and Melaka.

Neither confirming nor denying, Guan Eng’s Penang Institute is yet to respond but alas, since October last year they have failed to produce even a single piece of the answer to convince Penangites.

Guan Eng’s much-lauded states surplus budget is the latest subject argued by Datuk Liang that since January 2017, it went unchallenged. Since 2008, statesPenang’s surplus budget was actually based on the state’s land sales. 

In fact, pieces of evidence are produced showing Penang sale of assets, including land and shares by the Penang State Government and state-owned companies amounting to several billion, if added on, it will definitely produce a surplus budget. That is how Guan Eng has convoluted his claims to laud his administration performance.In covering up his lies, Guan Eng is at his best to quip others with his usual slurs and accused that Datuk Liang has failed to understand the Auditor General’s Report on Penang. 

Too unfortunate for Guan Eng that subsequently, Datuk Liang has shown to the public a clear and undisputable quote from the Auditor General’s report that Penang’s recorded surplus was due to land and asset sales including their accounting practices to transfer these figures and later recognised them as states revenue and later claimed them as a surplus budget.

Kuala Lumpur has increased their GDP per capita gap with Penang, an increase from RM18,306 in 2008 to RM49,875 more than Penang in 2015. In other words, Penangites are getting poorer when compared to Kuala Lumpur people and it could get even worse in the near future. Before DAP took over Penang from Barisan Nasionalstate’s GDP per capita has always excelled and overtaken Selangor but since 2008, it is already halved to Selangor in 2015.

Worst still when Penang state OPEX had jumped 5 folds from 2008 to 2017 when Penang had lost investments top spot since 2011.

Since Guan Eng and his administration has failed to dispute those claims, Penangites have every right to be alarmed and worry as their economic future is getting gloomy and weakening under Guan Eng and DAP when other states in Malaysia is leveraging on our nation’s booming economy. Should Guan Eng claimed that Malaysia is not doing well, it is Penang that is contributing most and is indisputable a failed state.

GUAN ENG IS NOT ABOVE CRITICISM

In his early days as Chief Minister of Penang and that was 5 years ago, Lim Guan Eng is seen as righteous as a saint who could and would do no mistakes and negligences. What more Guan Eng is always portrayed as championing the rakyat and deemed to never be linked with power abuse and bribery. So that is how some would regard him as ‘Tokong’ and the Malays would also regard him as the caliph among the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

It did not take too long to surface Guan Eng’s true colors and one after another starts to rise soon after war of words between him and former DAP Vice President Tunku Aziz whilst the list goes on. The one person who was once said as championing the plight of the people started to be involved in unscrupulous sales of state land to rich developers to build super priced houses at the expense of affordable homes for the poor.

These days, Guan Eng and wife alongside with his family members are seen with the rich and famous and their parents recent anniversary was celebrated in glamourous glittering styles. His changes are exhibitive and so is his arrogance.

Even among friends and allies, Guan Eng has always wanted to be seen as a manipulative squabbling figure even at trivial issues. Above all, expect sarcastic remarks and name callings against his opponents.

A recent article written by Kua Kia Soong who is the advisor of SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia), has expressed his obvious weary of Guan Eng’s arrogance and contentious attitude and pointing fingures  and blame others mentality. According to Kua, throughout his one and half term as Penang Chief Minister, Guan Eng is very fond to jump the gun and call many personalities as liars and refuse any further explanations.

The most explicit incident given by Kua is when Guan Eng accused the highly respected Penang city councilor Dr Lim Mah Hui as ‘hero with lies’ for not less than seven times in his public statements and infact Guan Eng went to the extend of challenging Dr Lim to tow his car.

With his bully temperament nature, PAS President has been Guan Eng’s major attacks and called him as a liar over religious issues and in particular Hudud law. To Kua, Guan Eng is immature to slur the spiritual leader excessively with hopes to gain urban Malay supports. A very low PAS supporters turnout in recent Bersih 4 rally should be a significant indication to Guan Eng’s rude and unacceptable manners.

Former Bersih chief Ambiga Sreenevasan and Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel are among Guan Eng’s allies to forwarn him to come clean and should hold responsible to satisfy public’s curiosity or Guan Eng should step aside and go on leave.

What is very surprising is when there are among the Penang DAP members who have come to remind Guan Eng of his position as a government servant and he is subject to the Penal Code and also the MACC Act. As expected most DAP leaders seems lost but are extremely troubled on Guan Eng’s bungalow purhcase that could equate to Khir Toyo’s wrongdoings.

In rebutting the issue from some DAP leaders, they seemed very double standard that they appealed not to be judgemental towards Guan Eng before trial and MACC investigation is concluded eventhough most are clueless to defend him.

It is not a tit-for-tat that BN lawmakers retaliate on Guan Eng’s issue but he has failed to convince the majority rakyat even with his usual publicity stunts. Some of his allies have joined hands to criticise are due to the obvious evidence and realised that Guan Eng is never above criticism when it comes to his own competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) slogan.

Sources : PRU14.tv

HOMELESS YOUNG GENERATION IN PENANG UNDER DAP REGIME

In Lim Guan Eng’s housing policies, it seems that there will not be in any way that young generations in the island can afford to own even a low cost house. Nevertheless, sooner or later these young people will be driven out of Penang. It is even more deplorable when Guan Eng rejected the federal government’s effort to build low-cost houses in Penang for his political interest.

Federal government shceme through Perumahan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (PR1MA) projects for Penang were put on hold until today just because Guan Eng would not compromise on providing commercial amenities for units below RM40,000. In Penang, developers will only provide facilities for housing projects that is above RM150,000.

The Penang DAP state government should also stop deceiving the people when they even linked the proposed land reclamation projects by the state government to the federal standalone low and medium income orientated housing scheme concept. The PR1MA Scheme implemented by the federal government is on federal land.

Kampung Mutiara in Penang is the closest example when DAP regime negelected affordable homes as basic needs. Failing to provide affordable homes for these squatters and when the court has ruled that the land legally belongs to the developer, these squatters not only are now homeless but were forced to leave without any compensation.

DAP continues to harp on what the previous BN administration did but failed to provide the Penangnites any alternatives and imporvements. When Penang voters chose them to take over from BN in the previous elections, this is because they wanted change and they expected DAP to do things differently. Instead, Guan Eng’s administration has obviously continues what the previous BN has done.

With high-rises and bungalows which are beyond the means of the ordinary folk in the island, what is even more saddening is the fact that many people are still crying their hearts out for a decent roof over their heads. It is even worse when the highly inflated housing prices are DAP’s most laudable achivement which has truly denied the young generations ability to own even a low-cost house... FIND OUT FURTHER