‘Lim barred from Sg Lembu school as visit was politically motivated’

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was barred from entering SJK(C) Kampung Sungai Lembu in Bukit Mertajam last month because of the illegal carbon filter factory issue.

Deputy Education Minister II Datuk Chong Sin Woon said the Education Department had referred the matter to the ministry, leading to the decision not to allow Lim to enter the school.

Chong said Lim had clear intentions of using the school to politicise the illegal factory issue.

“He wanted to go to the school to meet affected villagers from Sungai Lembu and hand over RM10,000 from his allocation.

“It was clear he was politically motivated by the ongoing illegal factory investigation. As chief minister, he has entered many schools before, and there was no issue. Yet, now, he makes it seem as though he has been barred from entering all schools.

“I have advised him to focus on solving state issues first,” he said at St Giles Wembley Hotel here yesterday.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and other government agencies raided the illegal factory in Sungai Lembu on Aug 10 following complaints by local residents.

State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh was arrested to assist in investigations. Also detained were the factory’s 70-year-old manager and his 37year-old son, a director.

On Aug 26, Lim went to Sungai Lembu to check on the situation following the illegal carbon filter factory fiasco.

He was scheduled to visit SJK(C) Kampung Sungai Lembu, but was told he would need permission from the Education Department.

Lim had said if the Education Ministry disallowed him from visiting schools in the state to deliver aid, then the ministry must ensure that it provided enough allocations to Chinese schools in Penang.

In response to that, Chong said: “We welcome him to come and give aid to schools. He can do it even on a weekly basis with banners displayed.

“He is talking as if only the Penang government is giving allocations to schools. Every state does the same, but they never make any noise.”