GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has declined to comment on the resignations of former Penang deputy chief minister I Mohamad Fairus Khairuddin and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng from PKR, a member of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition.  

Lim refused to dwell on the duo's actions, including Tan's threats to initiate legal proceedings against him (Lim), Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi and Batu Kawan MP and deputy chief minister II Prof P Ramasamy.

Lim said as far as Penang was concerned, there was no impact on the state government.

"The state government is stable and unaffected by these developments. We do not need to say anything; let the people judge for themselves what is happening.

"They are wise enough to differentiate and know what is going on and they will decide for themselves. We will focus on the mandate given to us to govern in the best interest of Penangites without discriminating against race, creed or gender.

"I have nothing else to say. Let us address what has happened in due course, and we will make comments when necessary," Lim said at a press conference today.

However, he said Tan's resignation did not come as a surprise to him. Tan quit PKR yesterday to be an independent while Mohd Fairus resigned to join Umno yesterday.

Asked if DAP would initiate any action on party hopping in PR since DAP was not in favour of such acts, Lim said it was obvious from what had transpired.

"We all know who is engineering all this," said Lim. Meanwhile, on an allegation by Umno Youth information chief Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican on Lim's clout to terminate contracts awarded by the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), Lim said he had yet to hear any complaints from contractors.

Reezal had said that a clause in PDC's tender form states that the contractors could have the contracts terminated at any time without reason by Lim, who is the PDC chairman.

He had questioned Lim's absolute power to overrule the decision made by the state tender board to award these contracts.

Lim said the motive of those who raised the matter was clear.

"I have heard no complaints from the contractors personally and this is an administrative matter which the PDC should handle.

"So far, the contractors themselves haven't raised the matter with me nor with the PDC," he added.