Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today laid part of the blame for brain drain suffered by the country on the lack of integrity among the national leaders.

Speaking at the World Chinese Economic Forum today, Lim said this was because talented people were not hesitant to pack up and leave if they were unhappy with the local leadership.

NONE "A leader must have integrity. Without integrity, talent will run away from the country. The people have a choice. If they don't like their leader, they can buy an air ticket to leave for a better country," he said.

The chief minister, who was lauded by moderator Ramon Navaratnam ( above ) as a "very special person", said this in his speech on integrity in leadership and innovation.

Lim focussed heavily on Penang's achievements under the Pakatan Rakyat government, including turning a deficit budget to a surplus budget for three years running and reducing government debt by 95 percent to RM30 million.

This focus on Penang, however, irked some members of the audience, including Gerakan member PK Chew, who during the question-and-answer session chided Lim for using an international event as a political rally.

"I think you have certain motives in asking this question but let me say it very clearly, integrity knows no borders... I'm not here to argue with you," Lim replied.

Dissatisfied with the reply, Chew said there should be a distinction between how one addresses an international conference and a domestic event.

NONE Ramon then came to the CM's rescue and stopped Chew ( right ) from elaborating, saying curtly: "There is no difference. That's your view, nobody agrees with you."

Another member of the audience then stood up to say that as a Malaccan, she too would have promoted her own state should she be in Lim's position.

"Because you can't visit Malaysia without visiting Malacca and you can't visit Malaysia without visiting Penang... but we are in Mines, not in Penang," she said of the event held in Serdang.

Lim again got stout defence from the moderator when a Johor MCA assemblyperson, Lim Kee Moi, asked the DAP leader a question alluding to a recent comment he allegedly made about the southern state's crime rate.

"When leaders say one thing, then deny it, and after denying it they admit what they said... I want to listen to what our Yang Amat Berhormat has to say about this," Kim Wai said.

Lim dodged the question, saying the event "is not a political forum" before he was again rescued by Ramon, who interjected on his behalf.

'I didn't criticise anyone'

"As a member of the voting public, if someone says they practice integrity but they don't do it, throw them out. But if that is what is called for, I think the CM will remain," Ramon said.

Almost perplexed by the hostility from the floor, Lim said he "did not criticise anyone" in his speech, and would be willing to engage anyone on any topic.

"But perhaps this is not the right forum," he said of his third appearance at the World Chinese Economic Forum.

His previous addresses also had a strong Penang slant, but were met with standing ovations.

The forum is organised by the Asian Strategic Learning Institute (Asli), in strategic partnership with the MCA.