The exchange of barbs between fomer Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and his successor Lim Guan Eng is showing no signs of abating with the two and their spokesmen continuing to taunt each other.

Two days after Bukit Bendera Member of Parliament Liew Chin Tong accused Koh of sabotaging the state government by announcing pending investment plans, the former chief minister hit back via his former political secretary Mark Ooi by telling Lim to be honest about the investments.

"Lim and his policy adviser Liew Chin Tong should practise their much touted CAT principle of being competent, accountable and transparent in whatever they do, including giving the true picture of foreign direct investments," Mark Ooi said in a statement yesterday.

He contended that Lim and his staff should not mislead the people by claiming full credit in attracting two new investments within two months of being in office, and brushing aside efforts by the previous state government, the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority and the Treasury.

"In fact, what was truly unethical and irresponsible was Ooi Chuan Aun’s (Lim's chief of staff and MP for Jelutong) act of damaging investors' confidence by making a mockery of confidential letters relating to Motorola's proposed investment during the recent general election campaign," he said.
Mark Ooi said Liew should have criticised Chuan Aun instead, considering that he is Lim's chief-of-staff.

He also noted that the Chief Minister himself had stressed on the need to respect confidentiality of companies.

He said previous comments about investments by himself and Koh were based on published and known facts, without revealing any company secrets.

"A new investment by Honeywell was actually announced by the company in late February this year. It was obviously dishonest of Lim to claim full credit for this investment,” he said.

Mark Ooi said Koh had always acted in the best interest of Penang and the people.