Gerakan’s latest revelation on fish farming in Penang, which the party described as “exposing the third bulls**t” of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, has been dismissed by Penang state executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin.

Afif, who oversees the state’s agriculture, primary industries, health and rural development portfolio, said the Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow’s claim cannot be used to compare the achievements of BN’s 50 years in power against the nine years of Pakatan Harapan.

“In the nine years under Harapan, new policies have been implemented, including several programmes to uplift the lives of the people, including those involved in the fish farming sector,” the PKR national deputy youth chief noted in a statement today.

Afif was referring to Teng’s statement at a press conference yesterday, at which Teng said Lim had lied about Harapan’s achievements in the fish farming industry.

Teng, who is also state Gerakan chairman, produced a table to show that fish farming activities existed during BN’s rule.

Referring to a media report that quoted Lim as saying fish farming in Penang only started after 2008, the year that Harapan seized Penang in the 12th general election, Teng slammed Lim for lying.

“Under the CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) principle, the state government has made it convenient to apply for licences to carry out fish farming,” said Afif, who is the assemblyperson for Seberang Jaya.

“Since 2008, the state government has abolished the middleman practice and provided direct licences to individuals and fish farming entrepreneurs,” he added.

Today, he said, Penang has 309 fish farms, increasing the national gross domestic output to more than RM1.2 billion in 2015.

“We ask that BN be more sensitive to the rakyat’s needs before issuing statements on isolated issues, or baseless allegations against the Penang government.

“BN should strive to be an effective opposition in Penang by providing policy proposals that are constructive and beneficial to the people,” he added.