Guan Eng irresponsible, says Muhyiddin

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PONTIAN: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has described Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as irresponsible for running down Johor at a function in Singapore recently.

Muhyiddin said Lim had shown disrespect for the sovereignty and leadership of other states.

“This is utterly irresponsible. Although he was overzealous in promoting his state, he can say good things about it but no need to say bad things about others,” he told reporters after attending a gathering at the Kampung Sungai Bunyi Jamek Mosque here yesterday.

Lim had supposedly bad-mouthed Johor during a luncheon talk with the Foreign Correspondents Association in Singapore on Aug 12, allegedly saying that Singaporeans would likely get ‘kidnapped’ in Johor and took a swipe against the crime rate in the southern state.

The deputy prime minister said when he went overseas he had never asked other countries not to invest in Penang or Selangor although both states were led by the opposition.

“Even though both states are led by the opposition, the people there are still Malaysian citizens. That is not how the BN administer states.

“No BN (Barisan Nasional) menteri besar had ever said ‘don’t go to Penang or Selangor’ as the people working there come from various states. In Johor, such as in Pasir Gudang, we have people coming from Penang,” he said.

Muhyiddin said the marked drop in crime rates throughout the country was the result of hard work put in by the federal government and security forces like the police and the armed forces.

He said Lim should acknowledge the role played by the federal government and measures taken by the police in curbing crimes.

“We have to give credit when credit is due,” said Muhyiddin, adding that as chairman of the committee monitoring the six National Key Result Areas, which included crime prevention, he studied monthly reports from Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.

He said the national crime index dropped by 15 per cent in 2010 from the previous year with Johor recording a decrease of 8 per cent and Penang, a drop of 26 per cent.

On street crimes, he said Johor crime index in 2010 dropped by 47 per cent while Penang crime rate decreased by 27 per cent.

On calls for Lim to apologise, Muhyiddin said Lim had erred and there was nothing wrong for him to apologise.

“I think leaders with big hearts are willing to admit their mistakes,” said Muhyiddin, adding that it was better for Lim to apologise than denying what he had said as it would enrage the people.

The deputy prime minister said when he went overseas he had never asked other countries not to invest in Penang or Selangor although both states were led by the opposition.

“Even though both states are led by the opposition, the people there are still Malaysian citizens. That is not how the BN administer states.

“No BN (Barisan Nasional) menteri besar had ever said ‘don’t go to Penang or Selangor’ as the people working there come from various states. In Johor, such as in Pasir Gudang, we have people coming from Penang,” he said.

Muhyiddin said the marked drop in crime rates throughout the country was the result of hard work put in by the federal government and security forces like the police and the armed forces.

He said Lim should acknowledge the role played by the federal government and measures taken by the police in curbing crimes.

“We have to give credit when credit is due,” said Muhyiddin, adding that as chairman of the committee monitoring the six National Key Result Areas, which included crime prevention, he studied monthly reports from Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.

He said the national crime index dropped by 15 per cent in 2010 from the previous year with Johor recording a decrease of 8 per cent and Penang, a drop of 26 per cent.

On street crimes, he said Johor crime index in 2010 dropped by 47 per cent while Penang crime rate decreased by 27 per cent.

On calls for Lim to apologise, Muhyiddin said Lim had erred and there was nothing wrong for him to apologise.

“I think leaders with big hearts are willing to admit their mistakes,” said Muhyiddin, adding that it was better for Lim to apologise than denying what he had said as it would enrage the people. — Bernama