Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has challenged Umno to put in a motion at the state assembly to seek indemnity from the federal government, to refund any compensation the state has to pay for postponing reclamation projects.

Today, at the DAP state convention in Bayan Baru, Lim said he would definitely support such a motion by Umno, adding that there are still those who do not care if the Penang goes bankrupt, as long as the state defends public interest.

He condemned such a stance as “irresponsible” and reiterated DAP and the state government it leads will not allow Penang to be faced with the risk of going bankrupt.

“This threat of bankruptcy is real due to the mismanagement and abuse of power by the previous BN state government,” Lim asserted.

He cited examples where the present Penang government went through the “bitter and painful experience” of paying RM14.7 million (still unrecovered) for the Tang Hak Ju land scandal incurred by BN, and another RM20 million to Boustead Holdings Bhd for reducing the height of its hotel in George Town to five storeys from the 12 approved by BN.

“If these payments are bad, the worst is yet to come. All these payouts are nothing compared to legal suits faced by our Pakatan Harapan government involving land scandals of huge proportion, committed by the previous administration,” he warned.

“The state government is appealing at the higher courts and we are determined not to allow Penang to go bankrupt,” he said, citing a list of what would happen in the case of state bankruptcy.

Swipe at PKR reps

Lim also took a swipe at the five PKR assemblypersons who abstained from voting against Umno’s motion - which was eventually rejected due to lack of votes - at the recent Penang assembly sitting.

The five, led by party whip and PKR’s Bukit Tengah assemblyman Ong Chin Wen, said they decided to abstain from voting, in following their conscience to defend public interest.

Lim said that there are those who said DAP was no longer defending public interest by approving only 60 acres of reclaimed land.

He added that this lot had conveniently overlooked or forgave BN for approving 3,241 acres.

“In their haste to attack us, they fail to mention how much Penang people was cheated as BN approved some of the reclaimed land as low as RM1 per sq feet - a price so low that (for comparison) we have to go back as far back as 1986 when Captain Francis Light first landed in Penang”.