Gerakan today suggested that the DAP-led Penang government should change its CAT slogan of competency, accountability and transparency to 'complaining, accusing and twisting'.

teng hock nan pc 240909 01 Penang Gerakan chairperson Dr Teng Hock Nan said it would be an appropriate description of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's administration for the political show he had put pertaining to the Kampung Buah Pala fiasco.

"Lim keeps spinning, twisting, turning and spreading lies over the issue to hoodwink, deceive and cheat the people," said the ex-senior executive councillor in the previous Gerakan-led state government.

He said the Kampung Buah Pala controversy showed that Lim's CAT was only interested in engaging in political propaganda and to put up a show.

Teng chided Lim over his indecisiveness and incompetence for his "about-turn" on his state exco meeting minutes on the village issue.

"On Monday, Lim said there were no minutes as the Pakatan Rakyat state exco did not discuss the Kampung Buah Pala issue at all. But the next day, he admitted there were minutes.

"His incompetence, indecisiveness and about-turn are misleading the people. Surely Lim should have had the facts with him or checked with his officers before he gave the statement on Monday," he added.

Kampung Buah Pala was once known as the Tamil High Chaparral due to its population of Indian community, cowherds, cattle, goats, live stocks, unique Indian cultural features and festivities.

The new land owner of the village Koperasi Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang Bhd and developer Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd have now demolished and flattened the 2.6ha site to pave way for a lucrative Oasis condominium project.

'Lies to the people'

NONE Teng said Lim's about-turn within 24 hours exposed Lim's 'lies to the people' to get away with his failure to protect the residents' interests and keep his party's pre and post-election promises.

Teng, who is also Gerakan vice-president, said Lim was also trying to confuse the people when he kept saying that there was no reason to declassify the minutes.

Lim has explained that the current state government would not declassify its minutes given that his government did not give any approval to alienate the Kampung Buah Pala land for the Oasis project.

However, Teng also accused Lim’s administration of lacking in accountability and transparency by not declassifying the minutes given that the public, especially former Kampung Buah Pala residents have the right to know the truth.

"Everyone is keen to know what was discussed by Pakatan leaders at their exco meetings before the village was demolished," he said, pointing out that the village land was transferred on March 27, 2008, some 19 days after Pakatan captured the state government.

Thus, he said Lim should take responsibility for it, whether or not he signed any documents and not to go on claiming that he had no knowledge.

"Lim should be either naïve, negligent or ignorant for not knowing it," slammed Teng, adding that he was also surprised by the deafening silence of DAP national chairperson and Bukit Gelugor parliamentarian Karpal Singh over the fiasco.