Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim has hit back at Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for calling him a liar for accusing the Penang state government of sidelining the national language.

NONE "There are no grounds for Lim to say I lie like (Malay daily) Utusan . The presenters at Han Chiang (College) that night did not even use a word of the Malay language as the national language," Rais ( right ) said in a text message to Utusan Malaysia .

Lim had in statement yesterday reminded Rais that the event was organised by a private college and not by the state government.

He also challenged Rais to specify any state government function where the national language was sidelined.

"If Rais was unhappy with the manner Han Chiang organised the event, why then did he not convey his unhappiness with Han Chiang? Why did he not demand an explanation from Han Chiang?" Lim asked

However, Rais put the blame on on the chief minister, saying that Lim should have taken it up with the college.

"Lim should have advised his konco-konco (followers) at the institution to respect the national language," Utusan Malaysia quoted Rais as saying.

The minister on Monday expressed disappointment that the national language was not given due respect in Penang after the opposition took over the state.

He claimed that this was abundantly clear at an official function he attended in the state, which he did not specify, where the organisers spoke only in Mandarin and English.

Han Chiang College is a private institution founded by prominent leaders of the local Chinese community in 1999.