Koh is the ignorant one

ELECTION 2008: Koh: DAP ignorant about state of Penang economy

GEORGE TOWN: A visibly irritated Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon yesterday branded those who go around claiming that Penang had lost its dynamism and competitiveness as ignorant and irresponsible.

The outgoing chief minister said the state government had all the facts and figures to prove that the island was still a vibrant economy."If you go to the industrial area you will see that the factories are still there and they are functioning," said Dr Koh."Yet, some people are saying they (the factories) are pulling out. What kind of a story is this. It is ignorant and irresponsible." Dr Koh singled out DAP's Ooi Chuan Aun, who is contesting the Jelutong parliamentary seat, for spreading these rumours during his campaign rounds.

"I want to ask those who criticise us if they have visited any factories."I have visited a lot of factories, promoted them and worked with them closely. My first question to him (Ooi) is how many factories has he visited. I can name all these factories which I am sure he is not even aware of," he said, adding there were more than 200 multinational corporations in the state.Dr Koh said this after presenting a progress report on Penang from 2004 to 2008.

A booklet detailing all the state government's successes over the past four years would be distributed here.Among achievements highlighted in the booklet are how Penang is ranked one of the top 10 most liveable cities in Asia; honoured as the first state to roll-out a MSC Cyber City outside the Multimedia Super Corridor; and identified as the hub for the Northern Corridor Economic Region. Dr Koh said besides being the state with the lowest hardcore poverty rate in the country, Penang has also attracted the highest amount of investment in its history

Comments: Dr Koh, stop your lies. Come and tell us if Inventec moving out of Penang is not true? Or maybe Tsu Koon is having a memory lapse on outgoing Komag CEO TH Tan saying investPenang, an outfit to promote investment and industrial development in Penang failed to do a good job. He alleged that many MNCs (multinationals) are reluctant to invest more in Penang due to the difficulty of finding good SMIs (small and medium-side industries) to outsource some parts of their production. And if I remember, emails from him drew a blank from Tsu Koon

I dont give a damn how many companies he had visited. I want to know how many companies has Tsu Koon managed to convince to place their investment in Penang. If he visited alot of factories, and not even securing a handsome number of deals, then he is nothing but a loser. And does he dare say that in FDI ranking, Penang is #1 or #2 in Malaysia? I dare him to make this revelation and state how is Penang faring against other states in Malaysia, let alone the world.

He wants to expand seaport and airport. Please-lah. Only now you start to tackle the Penang transportation bus issue. That also aft how many years since you took over from Chong Eu. Dont come and tell me about expanding the airport. 10 years ago, when I was in Penang, the airport looks the same to me 10 years after that. The flooring and the chair looks pretty same to me. Even Sultan Ismail airport in Johor is so much better than Penang airport with its cosy chairs and nice carpeting. And dont forget Tsu Koon, even MAS has cut their London-Penang-KLIA route leaving Penang out in the cold. Even MAS is opting out of Penang. Make the airport bigger? Another white elephant in the making or to hoodwink the voters?

Tsu Koon dont even have the guts to choose the next Penang CM. When Tsu Koon took over the helm, it was among Gerakan consensus, he was the best man for the job. Fast forward 26 years later, he has no guts to even make a decision such as this falling prey and succumbing to UMNO political hegemony.

So Tsu Koon, you're a disgrace to the people of Penang. I hope you stop lying to the good people of Penang.