Lim puzzled by Hadi’s accusation
KUALA LUMPUR: DAP secretarygeneral Lim Guan Eng has expressed his puzzlement over being accused by Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang of “lacking morals” merely for stating facts.
Lim, who is finance minister, said while Hadi was someone with religious knowledge, it seemed sinful of Hadi to hurl accusations at him just because he was displeased that the Kelantan government’s “secret” in seeking federal financial aid had been exposed.
“Recently, I saw how the Pas president, who is someone of high religious standing, accuse me of lacking morals, as if I had committed a sin by speaking the truth.
“I think that was political commentary. There is no need to play up ill-intentioned sentiments and slander.
“I don’t understand why when Datuk Seri Najib Razak, when he was prime minister, was not attacked by Pas leaders when he said the same thing.
“Hadi didn’t accuse Najib of lacking morals then,” he said at the Federal Territories DAP convention at the DAP headquarters here yesterday.
On Friday, Hadi had slammed Lim’s action of making public an official letter by the state government in seeking financial aid from the Federal Government, describing it as “going against moral values”.
Based on the letter, the state government had applied for an advance of RM97 million from the Federal Government in June to make up for a cash shortfall brought about by unexpected expenses.
Lim, in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday, had said that the state government was unable to pay the salaries of its civil servants, and was slammed by Pas’ leadership.
Lim, who had expressed his disappointment over claims by several Kelantan Pas leaders, who had allegedly described him as anti-Malay and anti-Islam, subsequently produced an official letter from the Kelantan Pas government, in which the latter had applied for a loan from the Federal Government.
Lim said he disclosed the letter after being challenged by Pas leaders to back up his claims.
“When I said that the Kelantan government was unable to pay their civil servants’ salaries, I was challenged to show proof.
“So I showed proof, but that was deemed the wrong thing to do.
“So damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
“I also fail to understand how I can be regarded as anti-Malay and anti-Islam.
“Despite having approved the financial aid, I was also regarded as anti-Malay and anti-Islam.
“But I approved it anyway despite being insulted as I do not want Kelantan’s civil servants to go without their salaries.
“We neither harbour any resentment nor desire for revenge.”