BN presses Guan Eng to explain Penang finances

(MMO) – Barisan Nasional has challenged Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to plainly answer questions about his administration’s finances, saying failure to do so would suggest that the state was headed for bankruptcy.

Among these were whether Lim’s administration sold RM37 billion in state land since 2008 and if the Penang Transport Masterplan project went from costing RM27 billion to RM46 billion in a year.

The ruling coalition’s strategic media team also urged Lim to say if Penang had been forced to make an emergency infusion of RM609 million to the Penang Development Corp and RM30 million to the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBA).

The allegations, if true, would demonstrate that Penang was in financial distress, it added when highlighting steps by Lim’s administration to raise revenues, such as increased assessment and quit rent, parking fees, water rates, among others.

“In short, this points to a Penang which is set to become a bankrupt and failed state where the people will be hit with further increases in charges, fines, state taxes and water rates to help the state government cope,” it said in a statement.

It also told Lim to plainly answer the allegations and avoid using political rhetoric as diversions.

BN has honed in on Penang’s finances since the state government said it needed a bridging loan from China for its transport masterplan.

It also noted that the Penang government’s yearly administrative expenses have risen five-fold.