Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng believes in getting the best and the brightest to help him run the island state, and this include those from the other side of the political divide.
"My success in attracting people from Umno and Gerakan has raised their heckles and they are out to get me," he lamented.
"But what have I done? All I am offering is not punishing them, not practising the politics of revenge and vindictiveness but opening up my arms to welcome them and yet that is rejected as a threat, the offer is spurned and they are even more intense and vicious in cutting me down."
Lim has been attacked by the Barisan Nasional coalition for poaching former Gerakan deputy secretary-general Lee Kah Choon to head InvestPenang and become a director in the Penang Investment Board.
On Sunday, he unleashed another round of consternation, this time from Umno, when he said an unnamed veteran leader from the party had accepted his offer to serve in the state government.
In the exclusive interview with Malaysiakini , Lim also argued that the DAP-led state government in Penang will not be severely disadvantaged by the lack of experience of those who had unexpectedly took power after the March 8 general elections.
"If you want to talk about being qualified, do you think (Gerakan’s former chief minister) Dr Koh Tsu Koon was qualified when he first became chief minister?
"Who is ever experienced to administer a government? Is (Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad) Badawi completely qualified?
"Politics is to serve public good, it should be a noble calling. It’s not to serve private sectarian interest, which is what is happening. I am trying to break that mould. I know by breaking the mould, I may be broken, but at least let me try."
To move out from mom's house soon
Lim also said he will not be moving into the official residence as it would require the state government to spend RM300,000 on repairs alone, and more for maintenance.
While he has been staying at his mother’s house since becoming chief minister in Penang, he plans to move out soon to be on his own.
"I have to find a place somewhere eventually. My mother is thinking of sending me an eviction notice," he quipped.
"She is just getting very agitated with all the commotion and everything. At that age, you want some peace and quiet. I really feel very bad that I’m imposing this on her."
Lim also revealed his disquiet on receiving honorific titles such as datukship - which has been an unspoken DAP policy - but added that it would be impolite to reject the offer should it come directly from the sultans.
"To refuse would be seen as tantamount to lese majest é (offending the dignity of His Majesty)."
The issue was hotly debated within the party after Perak senior executive councillor Ngeh Koo Ham became the first serving DAP leader to be bestowed a datukship.
Q&A: Datukship - to accept or not to accept?
Part 1
CM: Penang state's finances 'uncertain'
Q&A: 'There's been an attempt to punish Penang'
Part 2
