GEORGE TOWN: The state government will not back down from its efforts to reward senior citizens in the state with a RM100 annual payment and is willing to be investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government will not be cowered by allegations that the RM100 payment was a form of bribe.

"We abhor the open attacks on the state government's efforts.

"If any elections are looming, then you can accuse us of trying to buy votes.

"How can this be called bribing the people? We will not let the Barisan Nasional (BN) sabotage our efforts.

"We have nothing to hide and the executive council has vowed to stand by its decision to continue with this programme," Lim today said at a press conference.

He also said the decision to award the RM100 to those residing in Penang based on their voter registration was a way to ensure that the recipients actually were living in Penang.

"If it's based on the identity card, it may show that you were born here, but you may not be living here.

"Likewise, some other people were not born here but have lived in Penang all their lives.

"The best methodology to ensure that they are really living in Penang is their voter registration. This is also a good way to encourage those who have not registered as voters to register.

"We will even pay Barisan Nasional leaders like Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan (Gerakan Penang chairman) and Datuk Azhar Ibrahim (Umno opposition leader) as they are also eligible for it since they are aged above 60," Lim said in a jest.

Meanwhile, Lim also blasted Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah for his racial slur during the Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce dinner last Friday.

Ahmad Husni was reported saying that if the Chinese in Penang bully the Malays, the Malays would bully the Chinese.

"His statement is appalling, inciting racial sentiments and seditious.

"It is not the Chinese bullying the Malays or vice versa, neither is there any form of bullying in Penang, but it has been the Barisan Nasional and Umno which has been bullying Penangites over the past 52 years," he added.

Lim said being the second finance minister, Ahmad Husni should have based his allegations on facts and figures.

"He is not fit to be a minister if he can't even get his figures right and accused the state government of neglecting the Malays.

"He is trying to incite hatred and making emotional and baseless statements," Lim added.

Lim quoted figures from the Public Works Department-funded projects in Penang which showed the number of contracts awarded to bumiputra contractors in the state.

In 2009, all 125 projects worth RM4.4 million (under RM200,000) and tender above RM200,000, 24 projects worth RM4.01 million were all given to bumiputras while in 2008, 158 projects worth RM9.25 million (under RM200,000) and nine projects above RM200,000 worth RM5.52 million were all awarded to bumiputra contractors.