Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman has brushed off the state B N Youth's questions about PKR's involvement in an investment trip to China.

Describing these as "malicious", Mansor said this is being done to undermine the state government ahead of the coming general election.

He explained that state officials, including himself, had made a trip to Wuhu in Anhui in 2011, where the authorities had expressed admiration for Penang's FDI achievements.

"The Wuhu mayor requested that we cooperate in the form of a policy transfer between the state government and their local council," Mansor said in a statement.

NONE "A memorandum of understanding was then signed between the state and Wuhu to further strengthen relations especially in the business and industrial sector between the two cities."

The MoU was signed between Mansor and the Wuhu mayor Yang Jingnong.

Mansor had been accompanied by PKR leaders - state deputy chief Law Choo Kiang ( right ) and Kebun Bunga assemblyperson Jason Ong - leading to BN's questions.

However, Mansor denied that PKR had a role in the matter as this was state government business under his international trade portfolio.

"The state did not invest any money in this policy exchange as it only involved sharing of experiences towards a more meaningful cooperation between the two cities," added Mansor.

"At the same time we agreed to work closely (with Wuhu) to ensure a better two way trade between the cities. The trip was meant to help boost Penang as an investment destination and was not for overseas investment."