Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has rejected outright the offer by Gerakan state chief Dr Teng Hock Nan to help him draw more investors to Penang.

Lim said Teng, who is a medical doctor by profession, does not have enough experience in the field.

lim guan eng pc on doctored pix and penang bridge 25th anniversary "He was a state exco for (housing), local government (and traffic management) when he was in government," said Lim ( right ) told a press conference in Penang yesterday.

"His track record in local government was not very impressive," he said when asked to comment on the offer Teng made at the Penang Gerakan headquarters on Wednesday.

Teng had offered to help the state government as he felt that it was not doing enough to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Penang.

The FDI figures for Penang, Teng said, were disappointing as they have tumbled from RM10.2 billion when Barisan Nasional was in power, to only RM2.2 billion for last year.

He said Penang slid even further in FDI to minus 79 percent, compared with the minus 48 percent dip in the national average for last year.

Teng had also asked why Penang's FDI had tumbled so low when the state had good infrastructure and track record.

Lim did not refute Teng allegations but instead accused the latter of causing a RM230 million loss for the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) over seven years, when it was under Teng until March 2008.

"This amount, which has made MPSP practically bankrupt, is still not accounted for," Lim claimed.

"We had to turn it around to put it back into (good) financial health," he added.

Teng told to spend more time with the party

NONE Lim said he rejected Teng's offer because he did not find the latter's performance in government "outstanding".

"Although we thank him for his offer of help, we have to say no thanks," he added.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, advised Teng ( left ), who recently survived an attempt to oust him as state Gerakan chief, to spend more time with his party.

"I do not think investors here have cast a vote of no confidence against Penang," added Lim who acknowledged that his government could do better in attracting foreign investors.

The state, he added, would double its efforts to obtain investments reaching at least RM4.2 billion for next year.

On Teng's statement that Gerakan would invite Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) chairperson Mah Siew Kong to Penang to meet with investors, he said he would be most happy to welcome such assistance, even though Mah is Gerakan national vice-chairperson.

"This is because as Matrade chairperson, Mah will have the experience," Lim added.