PENANG Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng slammed the Barisan Nasional opposition for allegedly accusing the state government of telling flash flood victims to join Pakatan Harapan parties to qualify for relief aid.

He said it was a malicious accusation, as the state had never practised discrimination against its citizens based on their political affiliations.

“They accused us in an Utusan Malaysia article on September 20 that those who want to get the RM400 one-off flash flood relief aid must register as PH party members.

“All this while we have never practised this. Even when we started our annual welfare aid programmes, we never put in such a condition.

“Even Umno members are recipients of the aid,” he said in his winding-up speech at the state legislative assembly sitting today.

Before the more recent floods earlier this month, Penang was hit by flash floods on September 15 but the impact was less severe.

The state government offered victims of the September flood a RM400 one-off aid.

The topic sparked an argument in the House between Lim, who is DAP’s Air Putih assemblyman, and members of the opposition.

“Was Utusan Malaysia correct? That particular paragraph (with the accusation) was very hurtful. Didn’t you read the article yourself,” Lim asked opposition leader Jahara Hamid (BN-Teluk Air Tawar) who was quoted by the Umno-controlled Malay daily.

Jahara responded by telling Lim that the word “difahamkan” was used in the paragraph, meaning that they were made to understand that was such a requirement

Lim said “difahamkan” was a positive statement and an assertion of fact.

“That is unacceptable. You are a lawyer yourself. It meant that you were made to understand that people had to register as members of PH parties to get relief aid.

“Can you show proof? If not, (then) it is a serious allegation (against the state government). This (the allegation) is corruption.

When Jahara said she could not show proof at the last minute, Lim told her to do it by this afternoon.

“I know you are retiring. I hope you will retire in dignity. This is a state government that serves all, regardless of politics,” he said. – November 14, 2017.