The Penang legislative assembly sitting on Monday saw the opposition criticising Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for his alleged failures in governance, with Lim offering a rebuttal to his detractors.

Muhamad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong) listed 51 “broken promises”, pointing to Lim’s alleged failure, among others, to gazette Pulau Jerejak as a state park in 2009 and education hub in Balik Pulau in 2010.

Other examples cited by Farid included the purported failure to resolve flood and traffic woes, despite millions spent on flood mitigation projects and the proposal to implement a RM27 million Penang Transport Master Plan.

He urged Lim to stop being “arrogant”, saying the previous BN government’s land deals, unlike the current one, benefited the state and its people.

“Use state land to benefit the people through planned developments, come clean on land deals inked with the state government since 2008,” said Farid.

Lim refuted the opposition’s claims by touting various projects which his administration had spearheaded in Penang.

He said the DAP-led government had taken up “failed” projects by the previous BN government such as Komtar, and transformed them into attractive destinations.

“Komtar was nearly abandoned, as the previous government wanted to shift to Bayan Mutiara (in the southern post of the island) but we made the decision to stay put here,” he said.

“We managed to get a private investor to spend RM200 million to transform Komtar into a beautiful place.”

Lim said the current administration had also restored other BN “failed” projects like the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) in Bayan Baru, which he described as having been “neither alive nor dead” prior to his administration’s intervention.

He claimed to have revitalised the centre by turning it into the largest subterranean convention and exhibition centre in Asia. The RM350 million SP Setia project opened its doors to the public in March this year.

“We re-ignited interest in the George Town heritage centre by introducing many attractions for tourists, and redeveloped Penang Hill,” Lim said.

Lim also pointed out that his administration had turned what had been deemed the “dirtiest” state in Malaysia prior to 2008 into a “green, safe and healthy” place.

He boasted about the state’s ability to attract and clinch deals with companies such as popular international furniture giant IKEA, and outlet mall Design Village, both of whom have decided to establish branches in Batu Kawan.

“There are also projects that benefit everyone, like the public hall in SP Arena in Seberang Jaya, public hall in Ampang Jajar, the sports and swimming centre in Relau, and tourism projects like ESCAPE Theme Park and Entopia,” Lim said.