Penang Gerakan secretary Ong Thean Lye has urged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to “buck up” in attracting more investments to Penang since the latter has admitted that he needs to learn more about the art.

Ong said Lim’s own admission proved to show that Gerakan was correct in its earlier advice to him to concentrate more on administering the state instead of “incessantly playing politics.”

“Gerakan leaders meant well when they gave the advice in the interest of Penang people. Lim has been chosen to run the state and by right, he should live up to the people’s expectations,” said Ong in a statement, when commenting on an interview by Chinese daily, Kwong Wah Jit Poh, with Lim on Monday.

During the interview, Lim admitted that he was dissatisfied that Penang’s investment ranking was fifth in the whole nation and “he would continue learning.”

Ong regretted that Lim’s dismal performance and his interest in wanting to play politics, had slowed down Penang’s progress in many areas, especially in foreign and local investments.

He said Lim also liked to mislead the people by painting a wrong picture of the true situation. “For example, although Lim mentioned that Penang’s total foreign investment in 2008 was RM10.2billion, he purposely failed to mention that RM4.9billion in investment which took place in the first quarter of 2008 was the result of efforts by the previous Barisan Nasional state government.”

Ong said that in the case of Western Digital’s investment in Penang, Lim seemed to be at a loss and not sure or reluctant to reveal the total figure, which is USD$800million.

“Lim should be brave to tell Penang people that Western Digital’s investment was the effort of the Barisan Nasional and not the effort of his government.”

Ong said after more than two years in power in Penang, Lim should be humble and put more effort on governance in the interest of people, and not to waste time and energy to politicize on petty issues.