Penang Gerakan have been daring Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to reveal where the maker of BlackBerry smartphones, Research In Motion Limited (RIM), was planning to set up a factory in the state.

NONE The party’s deputy secretary, Goh Kheng Sneah ( right ), said Lim had told the media on July 16 that RIM, a Canadian-based company, would be setting up a manufacturing plant here.

“If this is the case, please let the people know where the factory is. How much is the investment gained and how many BlackBerry smartphones the company is planning to produce?” he asked.

Lim’s special investment officer, Jeffrey Chew, said his boss had referred to articles in The Star and New Straits Times when making the announcement and felt Gerakan was implying that Lim had lied.

He asked if Goh was openly saying that the two newspapers have printed “false news”.

He added that Penangites were not so gullible  to believe “confusing statements” made by Gerakan when the present state government has demonstrated its ability by making Penang No. 1 in last year’s investments.

Penang made history when it recorded a total investment of RM12.24 billion, beating all other states in Malaysia.

Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon, however, has laid claim to the successes, which he said did not happen overnight as companies usually took a long time to decide on investments.

“The Penang state government hopes Gerakan will accept the truth that the recent successes enjoyed in Penang has even been acknowledged by The Economist ,” he said.

“The magazine has said this was due to open tenders, clean administration and good governance that adheres to Competency, Accountability and Transparency,” he added.

In July, the NST's Business Times reported that several smartphones from the BlackBerry portfolio will be produced in Penang, for use by customers around the world.

The Star featured a similar report in its business section entitled “BlackBerry maker may outsource production, set up plant in Penang” on July 16.

Mobileworld.com.my carried an article quoting BlackBerry vice-president for Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, Dany Bolduc, as saying the company was “pleased to expand our manufacturing operations to Malaysia”.

News reports also quoted  Malaysian Investment Development Authority director-general  Jalilah Baba saying that she was proud that “Malaysia fits into RIM’s overall growth strategy for the region and warmly welcome the company’s decision to manufacture its products here”.

‘Serial liars growing by the day’

Meanwhile, Chew expressed regret that the “number of serial liars” from Gerakan and BN continues to grow by the day.

He said the latest “serial liar” is Goh, who was former Batu Uban assemblyperson.

He added that Goh should be  ashamed of himself for continuing to make “ridiculous and baseless” accusations against Lim, who is also DAP national secretary-general.

He was referring to Goh’s allegation two years ago that Lim was protective of Sungai Pinang assemblyperson Koid Teng Guan because he was the former’s blood relative.

“When challenged by Lim to show proof or be exposed as a liar, Goh kept quiet as he could not provide any evidence of any blood relationship between Lim and Koid,” he said.

“Now he  is claiming that the chief minister lied that BlackBerry smartphones will be manufactured in Penang.  This is a classic case of a thief shouting thief,” he quipped.