Guan Eng lets facts speak for themselves

'70 percent of state government contracts' in 2009 were awarded to bumiputras.

This is another haprak spin by the state govt of Lim Guan Eng . They didn't tell you the full story , only what is needed to be told . Most of the state awards for contracts are below the $500,000 ringgit contracts or jobs . Before it used to be $200,000 but was recently increased by the govt . Who are these people who can tender for these below $500,000 contracts ? They are the class F license holders who can tender for it . And who are these class F license holders ? They are given only to bumiputras . And whether Guan Eng likes it or not , only these bumiputras are qualified to do these 'small' jobs . Other races cannot hold these class F licenses . So there are two lies here to appease the bumis and the other races . Lie no 1 - that 70 percent of state govt contracts in 2009 were awarded to bumiputras - to appease the bumis . Lie no 2 - that most of all small jobs while awarded to bumis were not done by bumis , they were done by other races while the other races used the bumi class F companies to tender for the contracts and paid them for their use of their class F bumi company's name .- to appease the other races .In other words this is called Ali Baba contracts .

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng laid out his case at late night meetings with officials of the state government, civil servants and the press to defuse mounting criticism that his administration is out of touch.

Under attack from dissident elements of his coalition partner, PKR, Guan Eng (left) has opted for a politick silence in preference to direct refutation which is his custom.

The arrows launched at him in the last few days by PKR MPs Zahrain Mohd Hashim and Tan Tee Beng, in the Malay and Chinese language newspapers in particular, have dovetailed with Umno-inspired agitation over demolition of hawker stalls, an issue that bulks large in the concerns of Penangites.

Touted in Umno circles as aimed at Malay stall holders, it has given a perverse assist to former Penang PKR chief Zahrain's claims that Guan Eng is a chauvinist.

"It appears the state government is under siege," said Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, the state councillor in charge of Religion, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, who is from PKR.

CM treads consultative path

Malik, reluctant initially to comment on Zahrain's barrage against Guan Eng because he feared it would worsen the situation, yesterday discarded discretion for open refutation of Zahrain's criticisms.

Malik told the press that from the start of Guan Eng's administration in March 2008, the chief minister had moved to allay Malay concerns that they would be marginalised under a DAP-led state administration.

"This he did by consultation with Malay leaders within the ruling coalition, by his concern for Malay issues, and by his tackling of the issue of hardcore poverty whose victims are largely Malay," said Malik.

"As far as I know Guan Eng has never been remote from the issues that affect the Malay community but these issues are not susceptible to quick, magical solutions," he added.

"They have to be addressed in their complexity, resolved at levels where that is more easily done, and eased toward long term solutions when no short term fix is possible," said Malik.

As for Zahrain's complaint about Guan Eng's "dictatorial" ways, he said the chief minister was wont to consult rather than impose his views, to seek consensus rather than insinuate a pre-conceived view and affirm a conclusion in his favor.

"He listens but not without questioning the basis of your assumptions and if your facts don't add up, he is apt to set aside your views," added Malik.

On last night's gathering of state executive councillors, state assemblymen, local councillors, senior civil servants and district officers, Malik said afterwards, that the assembly was pleasantly surprised to learn that '70 percent of state government contracts' in 2009 were awarded to bumiputras.

"When facts like these are exposed to the sceptical, the carpet is pulled from under feet of our detractors who claim that the Malays are being marginalised," said Malik.

"The claim is more fantastical than real but in the cloudy atmosphere generated by the fog from the 'Allah' issue, what is only a mirage can seem real," suggested Malik.

Guan Eng declined to take questions after last night's briefing ended close to midnight, as an early Monday morning departure for South Korea required that matters of state took precedence over a desire for exculpation before critics.