Readers' comments on MalaysiaKini is very telling about the confidence people have in the security provided by the UMNO dominated system.
Now we have Federally (read "UMNO") appointed "little Napoleans" in the civil service, going against GO of the civil service, giving Press statements berating the Chief Minister at an Umno sponsored Press Conference!! He even has the gall to call the CM, "Biadap" becos accountability was demanded of him!!!
So much for Jibby's sloganeering ....... (and a little bird says that he may not last long since Umno members are working hard to oust him!)
Trading barbs in Penang
GEORGE TOWN (July 19, 2010): Simmering tensions boiled over in Penang today when Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and the federal-appointed State Development Officer (SDO), who oversees the channelling of all federal allocations for projects in Penang, traded verbal blows at separate press conferences.
Lim accused Nik Ali Mat Yunus of "openly and blatantly" sabotaging the state government, while the latter, in an outburst uncharacteristic of a civil servant, called Lim "biadap" (uncivilised) and said he had no right to question his qualification and compentency for the job. 
"He (Nik Ali) is like a little Napoleon in the civil service who gets high pay and does nothing for the people, but instead causes losses to them," Lim said during a visit to the Botanic Gardens.
Lim asked who should be held responsible for the RM150,000 plus losses over the scheduled demolition of two controversial twin arches, one of which is tilting, that were only recently built for the Gardens’ expansion project by the Tourism Ministry.
He said as the controlling officer in charge of overseeing project, Nik Ali should be held responsible.
"Nik Ali refuses to explain who will bear the losses. If he is willing, we will not pursue the matter. But if not, who is? Every sen counts, because it is a question of public trust," Lim said.
The chief minister also took issue over a letter sent by the SDO's office, dated Oct 13, 2009, to the state Drainage and Irrigation Department, which he showed to reporters.
In it, the SDO's office gave an "ultimatum" for pending issues on the Botanic Gardens' facade and pavilion development to be settled by Oct 31, 2009, failing which a RM5 million federal funding for the project would be withdrawn. (The state was at that point tackling eviction problems there).
Lim pointed out that this was an example of how the SDO's office was trying to rush development projects through without due consultation and feedback.
Meanwhile, Nik Ali lost his cool after a press conference held by state Umno leaders on alleged sand theft at a federal land in Politeknik Balik Pulau.
He denied any involvement in the design of the arches or in allowing the allegedly illegal sand mining, which was brought to light over the weekend, to occur.
"This is the third time that Lim has used rough words against me after the Penang Hill railway launch where he alleged that I did not prepare a seat for him and then the issue of the twin arches’ demolition," he said in a statement passed to the media.
"Only the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister’s Department can say if I am incompetent or not."
Nik Ali accused Lim of attacking him knowing that as a civil servant he was not allowed to issue press statements.
"I will continue to be considered a ‘coward’ for remaining silent and eventually become a ‘scapegoat’ for Lim," he added in his statement.
Nik Ali also took the state secretary (Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman) to task for failing to advise Lim on the SDO’s scope and responsibilities as directed by the federal government, and help forge closer relation between state and federal.
"He should prepare talks with the SDO and not allow Lim to twist facts and continue to attack the SDO," he said. -- theSun
