GEORGE TOWN (May 30, 2008): The open criticism by Mark Ooi, aide to former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon against Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng does not deserve a response, the latter said today.
"That sort of statement is not worth commenting on. Why don't you go ask the companies (referring to the investors)?" he said when pressed to comment on the statement at a press conference here.
He added that the results will speak for themselves and he preferred to concentrate on inspiring more investors to come to Penang.
"I refuse to respond to the personal attacks by Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and his assistants against our successes in attracting new foreign investments," he said.
He added that he does not wish to engage at the level of those who try to claim credit, as the people of Penang can judge this on their own.
He pointed out that the press conferences to announce the investments in Penang were organised by the companies and not him.
"I do not want the efforts to attract foreign investment to be politicised as this will not only hinder but drive away foreign investments," he said.
He later sent a press statement to further clarify that the state government prefers to focus on strengthening its competitiveness and focusing on its physical and human infrastructure to enhance the attractiveness of Penang as a investment destination of choice.
On Thursday, Ooi, who is Koh's former political secretary, issued a statement criticising Lim for claiming credit for the direct investments of RM1.2 billion by Japanese company Ibiden Co. Ltd and RM115 million by American company, Honeywell Aerospace.
He claimed that Lim was taking the spotlight for the finishing touch of a long and challenging process of over two years by Koh.
"To set the record straight, the effort of the new state government in the last two months merely represented the final short phase of a long process of promotion and negotiation stretching back one to two years," he claimed.
Last week, Ibiden announced its RM1.2 billion investment in Penang and on Wednesday, Honeywell announced its RM115million investment in Penang.
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