Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Komtar, George Town on Wednesday, 22^nd June 2011: 

The Chua family should not lie that Penang under PR has a deficit when PR has an unblemished record of surpluses by relying on corruption-free and good governance based on CAT 

The Chua family in MCA comprising MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and his Deputy Minister son Chua Tee Yong should not persist in lying that Penang under Pakatan Rakyat has suffered a deficit when PR has an unblemished record of 3 straight years of surpluses since 2008 by relying on corruption-free and good governance based on CAT. Chua Tee Yong had followed up on his father's claims that Penang was now running a RM108 million deficit budget that affected Penang's economic growth.

This is untrue as Penang PR has an unblemished record of 3 straight years of surpluses since we took over from BN in 2008 by relying on corruption-free and good governance based on CAT. This has been confirmed by the Auditor-General's Report that Penang is the best financially managed state for two years running. Penang is the only state or Federal government in Malaysian history that has been praised by Transparency International for fighting corruption.

Penang recorded the highest budget surpluses in history with RM88 million in 2008, RM 77 million in 2009 and RM33 million in 2010. The budget surplus would have been RM92 million in 2009, if not for the state government paying RM15 million to the High Court due to the Tang Hak Ju land scandal caused by the previous BN government.

Unfortunately due to the previous BN state government's land scandal, the present PR state government is likely forced to pay RM40 million to Tang Hak Ju. The present PR state government has also not recoup its RM30 million losses from the Pulau Jerejak land scandal.

It is this healthy financial management by the state government that allowed Penang PR to distribute RM12 million yearly to Sekolah Agama Rakyat, mission, Chinese, Tamil and Sikh schools. Was RM 12 million given to these schools yearly by the previous BN state government?

Penang PR's sterling financial performance is not limited to the state government's administration but also turning around and saving MPSP from bankruptcy. From 2000-2007, MPSP suffered record deficits every year, losing and spending RM230 million by the previous BN state government. MPSP was practically bankrupt when PR took over.

However in only one year, PR CAT's governance managed to rescue MPSP from financial bankruptcy by recording a small surplus in 2008 and surplus again for all 3 years as follows:-

2008 RM 3 million
2009 RM 15 million
2010 RM 23 million

There is no doubt the Penang under PR has performed so far better than BN. This confidence is reflected by the Penang recording the largest investment in history and being No. 1 in Malaysia with RM12.2 billion. Penang has also the highest reduction in crime index in the country with a drop of 27% and No. 1 in health tourism and air passenger growth (25%) in the country.

The Chua family should seek truth from facts and not seek lies by twisting facts to gain popularity and attack PR. PR is not perfect and willing to correct any mistakes made but PR is different from BN in that PR does not indulge in corruption or cronies.

*Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister, DAP Secretary General & MP for Bagan