Did Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng run down Malaysia in front of Hong Kong investors?

Lee Kah Choon, Lim’s special officer on investment, does not think so.

At a press conference today, he questioned the logic of detractors who claimed that Lim had spoilt the country's image in a speech on Sept 5 to a group of Malaysians in Hong Kong.

NONE Lee (left) said Lim had only addressed the actual perceptions that foreigners, including investors, hold on security, crime and corruption in Malaysia.

"This is not about politics but business. The consistent issue raised is (about) security. This is not an opposition but a national issue. It is a very bad perception," Lee said.

"I cannot imagined how Malaysia can be in the same league as Colombia and Mexico. In my wildest dreams, I would never have thought so, but that is the perception.”

Lim therefore had to explain ways in which these issues can be addressed, he said.

Asked if he views Lim's speech as being negative to Malaysia's image, Lee countered: "Is it logical for us to undermine the country when we are on a trip to attract investors to our shores?"

"Why should we scare them away? These people are in a foreign land, (and) they may not even be our voters. So why should we run down our own country?"

He was speaking after the 'Emerging Trends of the Technology Industry' forum jointly organised by Citigroup and InvestPenang, the state's investment arm.

Lee, who was Jelutong MP prior to 2008, said he does not wish to delve into politics, but only wants to clarify what happened in Hong Kong.

Lim had stated that there are four real problems in Malaysia - "crime, corruption, rise in indebtedness of governments and individual households, as well as declining educational standards, productivity and skills of the Malaysia labour force”.

In Hong Kong, he had noted, many investors and analysts had identified the four issues as making it less attractive or competitive to invest in Malaysia.