When Lim Guan Eng claimed that it was useless to meet with MCA president Liow Tiong Lai, who is the newly-appointed Transport Minister, on the construction of a new runway for the Penang International Airport, he should first ask himself why he is a failed chief minister and what use does he have to Penang?

Since Lim took over Penang, his rhetoric has always been better than what he is capable of. In the beginning, the people gave him time to perform, as they wanted to see how he could make more money, but the opposite happened instead as Penang’s foreign direct investment (FDI) dropped lower and lower as each year goes by.

According to statistics from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), the FDI in Penang has been decreasing since 2010 to 2013 by as much as 82 percent, dropping from RM10.45 billion in 2010 to RM1.79 billion in 2013.

During November 2013 to April this year, Lim and his executive councillors had even gone overseas as much as 20 times, claiming that they intended to attract foreign investments. They had spent RM610,1051.47 in total for all their overseas trips, yet they still failed to boost the state’s foreign investment.

Apparently, Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives in Penang have been using public funds for their own travel overseas, and were even willing to skip the state assembly and its winding-up session, which is not only disrespectful to the House, but also a waste of time as they still failed to increase foreign investment.

Penang has also been besotted by a series of problems ever since Lim became the chief minister such as the water tariff hike, his decision to change his official car in less than two months, the exploitation of Bukit Relau, the parking coupon saga, the new levy on hotels, high land premium and overzealous enforcement by the Penang Islamic Religious Department (JAIPP).

Lim, as the Penang Chief Minister, has not only failed to answer all the above questions, but he has also continued to avoid his responsibility. Lim has only known how to play around while at the same creating controversies and reducing the state’s foreign investment. So, why would Penangites still want Lim as their chief minister?

TAN TEIK CHENG is Penang MCA State Liaison Committee deputy chairperson.