Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been criticised yet again for “claiming credit” as being the first to implement certain policies when this is not due, according to Gerakan Youth.

hng khoon leng on lim guan eng 130911 hng leng soon with form The wing's state Youth vice-chief H'ng Khoon Leng said Lim has misled the people into thinking that his administration is the first to issue the 'Golden Child' programme application form, which does not require  the applicant’s race.

H'ng pointed out that some forms issued by the federal government like the Welfare Services application form does not have the race requirement. Permanent residents are also able to apply for assistance especially if they have stayed long enough in the country.

Other examples are the Medical Assistance Fund form that is available at public hospitals, and the National Higher Education Fund application form.

“At one point, the labour department did not require race details but since it has been asked to provide this for statistical purposes by the minister, it has started asking again," H'ng said in Penang today.

"We may need those figures in (certain) cases. For example, for the Indian community, we need to ensure that they do not fall behind in the socio-economic (field).

"It is clear that Lim's claim to be the first is misleading. In fact, he is not the first or even the second or third to have implemented such forms, but somewhere down the line. Lim has a habit of claiming credit (without doing) his homework.”

Previous error

H'ng was responding to Lim's announcement yesterday that the Penang Golden Child Programme application form has no “race” category.

NONE Lim (left) had said this is "the first form that doesn’t require you to state your race" as, from the state’s point of view, it is sufficient that the applicant is a Malaysian.

He described all citizens as "anak Malaysia" and issued the declaration in conjunction with the spirit of Malaysia Day on Friday.

H'ng also said that Lim had, in February last year, announced that Patahiyah Ismail was the first woman municipal council chief in the country. This was not accurate because Adeline Leong had been appointed Sandakan Municipal Council president from 2000-2004.

"I believe the reason why Lim is making these claims is to get political mileage but, unfortunately, he is doing it by playing the racial card," claimed H'ng.

"...We would like to ask Lim how Pakatan Rakyat will address the issue of ethnicity in its policies and administration if it is able to come to power at the federal level.”