GEORGE TOWN: Accusations that the Penang state government has sidelined Malays are unfounded, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (Air Putih-DAP) told the state assembly on Monday, May 3.

Replying to an oral question by S Raveentharan (Batu Uban-DAP), Lim said the state government's approach has been to look after all races, regardless of religion or creed.

Lim said he was perplexed at the accusations because while Umno said the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government was anti-Malay, Gerakan says otherwise.

"Which is the case now? Are we anti-Malays or anti non-Malays? Allegations by both sides are not true as this government is only anti-Barisan Nasional," Lim said.

Lim said under the PR government, it has been proven that Malays could compete internationally, as was evident with the number of contracts awarded to bumiputera contractors.

"It is only Umno and BN which are not convinced of their capabilities and only contractors who are cronies of BN and Umno cannot compete internationally without favours from their political connections," he said.

"Malay contractors in the state have been successful in bidding for projects via the state government's open tender processes with 67% of the Penang Water Supply Corporation contracts and 70% of Penang Development Corporation projects were awarded to bumiputera companies," Lim added.

He said accusations that the state government, through the Penang Island Municipal Council, was targeting Malay traders were untrue.

"We have been asked by a federal minister via a letter to take action against the beach traders in Batu Ferringhi and we have never taken any action against traders by the roadside. This is due to there being accidents on the beach and we only took action after the minister sent us the letter. The minister is from BN, so, why the double-edged sword? Take it up with them instead of with us," Lim added.

Lim said the state government's aim is to make Penang a clean, uncongested and safe tourism destination, and it would do anything within its means to do so.

To a supplementary question from Azhar Ibrahim (Penaga-BN) on what the state government has done to help poor bumiputera citizens obtain affordable housing, and how many low-cost houses the state government has built, Lim criticised Azhar for singing the same old tune.