PENANG today wanted to know why the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was “targeting” the opposition-led state for not signing the Corruption-Free Pledge when there were other states, including those under Barisan Nasional control, that have not inked the pledge either.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said, so far, it seemed that only Penang that had been singled out by MACC in its criticisms.

“What makes Penang so different? If we are the only state that has not signed the pledge, we can understand. But there are other states, including BN states,” he said.

“The MACC knows which states. I don’t want to accuse them of double-standards, but I hope they can explain why,” he told a press conference today.

Yesterday, MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad said the agency was “appalled” by Penang’s apparent snub of the pledge. He wanted to know why Lim required an invite to sign.

He reportedly said: “I don’t know why Lim said there needs to be an invitation. ‘Hebat betul Penang ini’ (This Penang is really something.) I am puzzled. Anyway, it is up to him to do it or not. He doesn’t need to give excuses.”

Last week, Lim said Penang would sign the pledge provided it was followed by concrete action to fight graft, such as public asset declarations by chief ministers and exco members, and implementing open competitive tenders.

It has been about two weeks now since both MACC and the Penang government made statements criticising each other in the media over the pledge issue.

It started when Dzulkifli said he was disappointed that Penang had “refused” to ink the pledge and the state responding that MACC never invited Penang to do so.

The attacks, Lim said, had given the BN media the opportunity to bash the Penang government, making the Pakatan Harapan administration appear like it was not ready to fight corruption.

“It is true they never contacted Penang to sign the pledge. Only now we know that we must volunteer to sign it.

“Why couldn’t they contact us about it, rather than targeting Penang in their attacks? It appears as if they have some vendetta against Penang,” he said.

Lim also said Penang had been progressive in the fight against corruption, which could be shown by the annual budget surpluses recorded by the administration since 2008.

He said Penang had also reduced its state debts, and received praises from the Auditor-General and Transparency International for its track record in managing the state’s finances.

“We are the only state to receive such recognition, and yet we are being singled out. It should be more important that a state government has the political will to combat corruption.

“But if MACC insists on the pledge, the state exco will discuss the matter this Friday,” Lim said. – July 25, 2017.