We refer to the letter FDI: Penang needs to re-engineer.

This is a quick rebuttal to some of the blatant distortions in Calvin Sankaran's latest diatribe against the Penang state government and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Once again Sankaran turns his back on the obvious truth by asserting again that ‘Intel and Dell are just two examples of key investors who have left Penang during the reign of Lim’. He has either not gone to the sites of both the plants in Bayan Lepas or blithely ignored the repeated press releases made by both companies that they are here in Penang to stay. A quick visit would have confirmed that both computer giants have continued their substantial presence in Penang.

Another is his assertion that ‘Lim's shocking decision to turn down a RM10.2 billion high-tech FDI because he could not guarantee enough engineers has made Penang a laughing stock around the world. Lim's action has affected Penang's position as a key high-tech FDI destination, perhaps permanently.’

Lim had refused to guarantee 1,000 electrical and electronic engineers(E&E) because he is not in the business of making empty promises to investors and destroying Penang's credibility, reliability and reputation in the process.

Further, any failure to fulfill the guarantee of 1,000 E&E engineers would invite a compensation amount to billions of ringgit. MNCs would definitely insist on a written letter of guarantee. Clearly Sankaran - like most BN cronies - has not learnt the painful lessons of the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Trade Zone (PKFZ) scandal caused by such letters from te then transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik and Chan Kong Choy.

The success of the present Penang state government can be seen by the severe worker shortage in the state where presently 20,000 new positions from all levels can be filled. For instance, the Penang CAT's center to help retrenched workers saw more than two jobs chasing every worker registered.

How severe the worker shortage is can be seen by the recent warnings by Japanese ambassador Masahiko Horie that the country may lose out on foreign direct investments (FDIs) from Japan if the manpower shortage faced by the manufacturing sector prolongs and energy supply disruptions by Tenaga Nasional Bhd are not resolved.

Clearly, Sankaran insists on turning a blind eye to the severe worker shortage in Penang. And how fortunate is Penang in not having to face huge losses in compensation for failing to deliver on its promises for 1,000 E&E engineers.

The writer is special officer to the chief minister of Penang.