GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is welcome to investigate the Penang state government for paying RM100 annually to each senior citizen in the state, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.

"The state government will not be cowed by allegations that the RM100 payment is a bribe," Lim said at a press conference on Thursday, March 11.

He was responding to a statement by Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong on Wednesday accusing the state government of trying to bribe the people with the handout for senior citizens.

"If any elections are looming, then you can accuse us of trying to buy votes," said Lim. "How can this be called bribing the people?"

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

The decision to award RM100 to those residing in Penang based on the electoral roll was to ensure that the people were in fact living in Penang.

"If it was based on the identity card, it may show that you might have been born here, but you may not be living here. Likewise, some other people may not be born here, but have lived in Penang all their lives," said Lim.

"The best methodology to ensure that they are really living in Penang is (to use) 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 (Penang Gerakan chairman) and Datuk Azhar Ibrahim (state opposition leader) as they are also eligible for it since they are aged above 60," Lim said.

On another matter, Lim criticised Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah for an alleged racial slur he made during the Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce dinner last Friday.

Ahmad Husni was reported as saying that if the Malays were bullied, they would retaliate. Lim called his statement appalling, capable of inciting racial sentiment and seditious.

Lim said that as the second finance minister, Ahmad Husni should have based his comments on the facts.

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

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

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

In 2009, all 125 projects worth RM4.4 million (under RM200,000 each) and tenders of above RM200,000 each for 24 projects worth RM4.01 million were all given to bumiputeras. In 2008, 158 projects worth RM9.25 million (under RM200,000 each) and nine projects above RM200,000 each, worth RM5.52 million in total, were all awarded to bumiputera contractors.