CM Guan Eng ‘a control freak’?

Hawkeye

Penang Umno Youth says the chief minister wants to have a say in every issue in the state.

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is a control freak who wants to control everything within his grasp, Penang Umno Youth charged today.

Lim has acquired a reputation of being a dictator as he has very little trust in his subordinates, its chief Shaikh Hussein Mydin said.

He was commenting on news reports that Lim is considering defending both his parliamentary (Bagan) and state (Air Putih) seats in the coming general election.

“If you study the happenings in the state government, you will note that Lim wants total control of all administrative matters,” he said.

“You may say he is a hands-on leader but strong leadership also means the ability to delegate responsibilities,” he added.

Shaikh Hussein said Lim wants to take charge of all issues in the state including Islamic policies and matters related to the Malay and Indian communities.

He added that the chief minister has overstretched himself and is neglecting important issues like affordable housing.

He claimed that promises of free weekend parking in the municipalities are not kept, benefits of foreign direct investments are not trickling into the low-income group and development overall is stagnant except for high-end housing schemes.

He said there is now resentment among the Malays and Indians about the way the state government executes policies important to them.

There is no denying that people are generally uncomfortable with how the state is being governed, he added.

Passive leaders

Many Penang residents see the two deputy chief ministers, Mansor Ismail and P Ramasamy, as just passive leaders who have no clout because Lim overshadows them, Shaikh Hussein said.

To make matters worst, Lim, Mansor and Ramasamy are not Penang-born leaders.

They do not have a grip on sensitive issues such as the preservation of the local culture and the need for balanced development, he said.

He added that it will be a mistake for Lim to contest both parliamentary and state seats as he will not have the time to devote his full attention to both constituencies.

Shaikh Hussein said Lim is also tied down with his role in the Pakatan national leadership council, as well as being chairman of Penang Development Corporation and DAP secretary-general.

Lim also has to serve his two constituencies, and yet he wants to be an effective chief minister, Shaikh Hussein said.

“He may be able to do it if he clones himself,” he added.

Penang always had a chief minister who only contested a state seat as the job is highly demanding, he said.
Last night, during a question-and-answer session with the public, Lim hinted that he would defend both seats, saying that as a MP, he can settle things fast when he discusses issues with federal ministers.

But Shaikh Hussein said cracks are starting to emerge in the DAP ranks, with outspoken Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi openly clashing with Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai over low-cost housing.

In Balik Pulau, PKR MP Yusmadi Yusoff is also clamouring for attention because he is upset that development projects approved by the local authorities would eventually see many residents there being evicted.