DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang today rebutted claims Penang was heading towards becoming a failed state, as stated by BN.

In a statement, Lim said: "I do not know whether to laugh or cry when I read this.

"Are BN leaders seriously suggesting this? That Penang is worse than Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah, Pahang, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Johor?" he asked.

Lim said this in response to a recent statement by the BN strategic communications team that Penang was set to be a failed state, due to its increasing debts, which would further result in increase in charges, fines, state taxes and water rates.

The BN statement cited the increased assessment and quit rents, monthly parking rates, water rates and fines imposed by municipal councils in Penang as examples. 

It further claimed that Penang's annual operating expenses have increased by 500 percent, on an annual basis, since DAP took office in 2008. 

Lim, the MP for Gelang Patah, said it is Malaysia instead that is in danger of being trapped in a trajectory heading towards a bankrupt state, and claimed that an overwhelming majority of informed Malaysians, including BN members, would agree to this notion. 

He said Malaysia, since achieving independence, has lagged behind many other Asian countries, including Japan and South Korea.

Citing South Korea's impeachment of its former president Park Geun-hye, its economic performance and democracy progress, Lim said: "South Korea is a salutary reminder of how far Malaysia has fallen short of our expectations since independence."

Lim then lamented the escalation in the politics of lies, hate, fear and extremism, citing the attack on DAP lawmaker Liew Chin Tong at a Ramadan bazaar in Kluang recently. 

"Moderate Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or politics, must speak up strongly and steadfastly for peace, tolerance, understanding and mutual respect.

"We must not cede any single inch of mainstream ground to the advocates of hatred, intolerance and extremism, or Malaysia will be heading towards a perilous and disastrous end – and become a failed and bankrupt state.

"We will end up as a broken and a failed state if we do not resist the siren song of extremists who preach distrust, hatred and intolerance and want to build walls segregating the diverse races, religions and cultures in Malaysia," Lim added.