CM's men in damage-control mode

2010/02/04

GEORGE TOWN: The continuous attacks on Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng by his own allies have sent state government leaders here into an overdrive mode to do some damage control. They have dismissed the scathing attacks against Lim as the personal views of disgruntled individuals.

State Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman said the call for Lim to be replaced as Penang chief minister did not reflect Pakatan Rakyat's stand. He said the call, made by Nibong Tebal member of parliament Tan Tee Beng, would not be entertained by anyone in the state.

Mansor, who is also state Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chief, instead said it was Lim's detractors -- including Tan and Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, who should get out of the party. "We will certainly not cry losing them. They can leave anytime and nobody will stop them."

Mansor's stand was echoed by state DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow, who said Tan had no business calling for Lim's ouster. "Lim is the party's choice to be the CM. He may be young and new compared with other party veterans but that does not matter as long as he has the ability."

On allegations by former DAP strongman Tham Weng Fatt that Lim had sidelined veteran leaders in Penang, Chow said Tham did not understand how the party operated.

Lim's chief of staff Ooi Chuan Aun also dismissed claims that his boss was feuding with assemblymen and grassroots leaders here.

"Having differences of opinion with the chief minister does not mean there is a feud. We are running a democratic administration here and anyone is free to give their views."

State Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim also jumped to Lim's defence and said those who condemned him had betrayed their friends.

"They have stabbed their comrades in the back. I have known Zahrain since the 1970s and Tan for a few years. What they have done is an act of betrayal."

Malik admitted that there were weaknesses in the state administration, but stated that the duo had blown things out of proportion.

"We are not saying we are the best, that we don't have problems or weaknesses. We are striving to be the best.

"We want to overcome our weaknesses and we are fighting very hard to do it."