The DAP has questioned the credibility of a report which stated that 18,000 Penangites have migrated to others states, saying it does not gel with the increase of 35,000 Malay voters since 2008.

Zairil Khir Johari (2) Secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary Zairil Khir Johari ( left ) said that the allegation does not tally with the statistics found in Penang’s voter registration from 2008-2011, which showed a marked increase in Malay voters.

The number of Malay voters in Penang have increased from  247,131 in 2008 to 282,062 in 2011, an increase 34,931 people or twice the number of 18,154 who allegedly moved out as claimed.

“If  we look closely, we see that the number of Malay voters has increased in many areas in Bayan Baru and Balik Pulau, that is 4,093 and 5,120 respectively,” he said.

“This shows that the Malays are still committed to strengthening their voices and participation in the social economic development of Penang,” he added.

“How can it be said that many Malays have migrated out of Penang when the number of Malay voters have increased remarkably, as much as twice-fold the numbers claimed by the study?” he queried.

'High cost of living in Penang'

Zairil was referring to a Berita Harian report today which alleged that Malays (18,000) have left the state between 2009 and 2010 as they could no longer afford the high cost of living here.

The report had quoted former deputy chief minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin as saying that the result of the survey “proves that the Penang bumiputras have ben subtlly marginalised by the DAP-led government”.

His statement was based on a report by Penyelidikan Sosio Ekonomi Pulau Pinang (PReCISE), a unit under the Penang Malay Entrepreneurship Association or Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia Pulau Pinang.

Zairil, who is also head of local think-tank Penang Institute, said he is not aware of the real intention of Mohammad Fairus but it is clear that his tone is “racialistic”.

He questioned whether Mohammad Fairus is trying to imply that Malays were marginalised by their governments if statistics show that they have migrated out of the country, or state.

‘Illogical and baseless’

He added that Mohammad Fairus’ assertions were “illogical and baseless”, fuelled by irresponsible and racial sentiments.

“It exposes him as being a hypocrite for attacking a government which he was part of in the past, and which he had failed to serve well as a deputy chief minister,” said Zairil.

Zairil said that Penang’s government policies were fair to all people regardless of race, religion or skin colour.

He added that the state had launched the low-cost housing project in Batu Kawan, and provided a RM500 million development fund for its building.

The state, he stressed, has also launched phase two of the project which involves parts of the mainland in the Northeast and Southwest districts.