The orchestrated attacks against the Pakatan Rakyat Penang state government and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for allegedly turning away a FDI investment of US$3 billion in 2008, because Lim refused to guarantee 1,000 electrical and electronic engineers, continues with Ronald Khoo's letter: Turning away of FDI mother of all blunders .

As the writer merely parrots the same spin right up to the strident call for Lim's resignation, Ronald Khoo is not deserving of a reply were it not for the claim that he is a senior manager working in Penang's high-tech industry.

I find it hard to believe Khoo's claims that he is a senior techie when he refuses to argue based on these facts:

Lim Guan Eng had spoken in Parliament requesting more commitment and funds from the federal government to train more professionals and talent. He cited the example that Penang lost a US$3 billion foreign investment, as he could not guarantee 1,000 electrical and electronic engineers in 2008, the same year that Penang achieved a record RM 10.2 billion in investments.

Whilst there may not be a shortage of finding 100 electrical and electrical engineers, there is definitely a shortage of 1,000 electrical and electronic engineers from established universities paid at Penang or local rates.

No foreign investor will pay at international rates as they might as well invest at home.

A responsible state government should never promise something it can not deliver as this will cause irreparable damage to Penang's credibility and trustworthiness.

Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) officials constantly reminds us never to make empty promises to investors.

Penang has not been hurt by its principled stand of refusing to be in denial mode and on telling the truth as can be seen by the string of quality and high-tech investments by cutting-edge R&D companies in Penang.

Granting guarantees to investors entail compensatory costs if they cannot be fulfilled.

I would have thought that no one would dare suggest that letters of guarantee still be liberally issued after the bitter and costly experience of the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Trade Zone scandal caused by such letters of guarantees from ministers.

Apparently Khoo appears to have missed this important lesson with the simplistic explanation that PKFZ's investment can be recovered and turned around, which is contrary to the conclusions of accountants and the auditors.

The Penang state government will not indulge in such criminal actions that can cause such huge losses.

For Malaysia and Penang to be a knowledge-intensive economy, we need to double the electrical and electronic engineers.

Whilst education and training is within the powers and responsibilities of the federal government, the state government is making additional efforts by expanding the Penang Skills Development Corporation (the best training and retraining school in Malaysia) and establishment of a 200-acre Education Hub of Excellence in Balik Pulau, Penang.

There has been no negative feedback from the high-tech industry. If Khoo is indeed a senior techie in Penang's high-tech industry, I would like to invite him to meet me to discuss the so-called negative feedback and adverse impact on the investment climate.

Investors conduct their own due diligence to examine the facts and would respect governments that told the truth.

The economy and investment climate is too important to be used as a battleground to serve certain vested interests. The time has come to affect the PR Penang government's promises of change, to quote the Penang chief minister, "by stopping playing games of 'truth or dare' but to simply tell the truth."