The Lim Guan Eng administration has been taken to task for twisting and turning over its plan to reward RM100 to senior citizens in Penang.

Penang Gerakan Youth secretary H’ng Chee Wey said if the state government wanted to retract its promise to present the money to senior citizens, it should not drag the Gerakan into the picture.

H’ng said Gerakan was always supportive of efforts by any quarters including state government, charitable organizations and private groups to give financial aid to the people, including senior citizens.

“We welcome such good gesture. We are all for the welfare of the people,” he said.

“But what we want to question is the sincerity of the Lim administration. Their attempt should not come with any political motive or a hidden agenda,” said H’ng in a statement.

H’ng was commenting on a statement by Lim’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik on Tuesday, asking Penang Gerakan to state whether it wanted the state government to cancel its proposed programme for senior citizens.

Ng had made the call following an earlier call by Penang Gerakan Youth Oh Tong Keong to MACC to investigate the Penang government’s plan in view of the perception that “it is a form of corruption.”

Oh had made the remark based on an incident during a dinner when Lim had asked if the move, to be implemented next month, could be deemed a form of corruption.

Lim repeated the question thrice and each time the senior citizens stood up to say “Yes.”

H’ng said the state government’s so-called CAT (competent, Accountable and Transparent) slogan should appropriately be changed to Complaining, Accusing and Twisting.

H’ng said the state government should be caring for all senior citizens instead of only wanting to give the money to those who are registered voters.

It was reported in newspapers on Monday that Penang-registered voters, who are aged 60 and above from March 9 this year, are eligible for the reward.