INCOMING finance minister Lim Guan Eng has hinted that the country’s books are in a mess.

He said he had spoken to officers from agencies under the Finance Ministry and looked at the account, and found problems.

“I wanted to see the country’s accounts. I saw some things we never knew about… I thought ‘there are such things?’” he told a crowd of thousands attending tonight’s Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) mega ceramah at the Esplanade.

The gathering was held to thank voters, welcome the state’s new chief minister, Chow Kon Yeow, and bid farewell to Lim, the former chief minister.

“I cannot tell you the details, but I can tell you we will work very hard to recover the country’s financial health. This I promise,” Lim said.

PH finally won Putrajaya in the May 9 polls last week, removing Barisan Nasional.

Lim said it was not easy to boot out BN, but the people had really taught the old ruling coalition a lesson.

Thanking the people for having the courage to change the federal government, the DAP secretary-general, who is Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman, also pledged that he would work and fight for Penang and Malaysia.

“We will work like how we have been working in Penang.

“I will miss Penang. I won’t forget how Penang has supported me and taken care of me. I will come back often. My heart will always be home, in Penang,” he said.

Lim led the Penang government for two terms since the 2008 general election. PH had gained bigger majorities and won more seats in the two general elections since.

In the recently-concluded polls, PH won 37 out of the total 40 state seats in Penang. BN lost eight seats, leaving only two while PAS won one seat.

For parliamentary seats, PH won 11 out of 13, with BN winning the remaining two. – May 14, 2018.