Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng wonders if police chief Khalid Abu Bakar will apply the same "unusually quick response" and professional diligence to police reports against BN chiefs, as they seem to when it comes to complaints against Pakatan Harapan leaders.

"The IGP had responded barely 48 hours after Umno Youth lodged a report against Ms Phang Li Koon, who sold her house to me, allegedly for making a false statutory declaration (SD).

"However, we have never seen such a speedy response to investigate or call the prime minister or ministers as witnesses, when police reports are lodged against BN leaders over the 1MDB, RM42 billion, or the RM2.6 billion donation scandal," said Lim in a statement.

This, argues Lim, only deepens his suspicions that BN is mobilising its entire government machinery against him.

"The IGP specifically said that I will be called as a witness. I will be happy to assist and co-operate, as I have nothing to hide," he said.

Lim, however, wonders if the police will be as forthcoming and earnest on their part.

"Can BN do the same? Will Ms Phang and myself be given the right to be investigated fairly, impartially, and professionally?" asked the chief minister.

PenangInvest directory open to all companies

In a related matter, Lim disputed Umno Youth's claim that Phang has business dealings with the Penang state government.

"They cited a company which she owns 20 percent, being listed in the directory for employment agencies on the InvestPenang website. What Umno Youth fails to mention is that the company mentioned is not the only company listed, but one of the 30 employment agencies listed."

Lim explained that there are also many other lists for auditors, banks, architects, construction companies, and others.

InvestPenang, he said, merely publicised the names and services of many companies operating in Penang, and these companies do not necessarily have any business dealings with the Penang government, as any company can apply to be listed in the directory.

Furthermore, he argued that unless the state government is looking for foreign workers, there is no need for it to seek out Ms Phang. And as a matter of policy, state government does not employ foreign workers.

Lim is currently being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for the purchase of his current residence on Jalan Pinhorn from Phang, allegedly for below market value, and purportedly in exchanged to the sale of state land for cheap to a company, in which Phang's business partner had an interest.