PM meets Guan Eng: 30 mins, 2 statements, no feelings hurt - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi met for 30 minutes in Putrajaya today and both of them came away with something — no loss of face.

The island’s newly-minted chief executive was able to raise all the issues on his agenda, including the need for Petronas to fund the construction of the second Penang bridge, and said so at an impromptu press conference outside the PM’s office.

Careful not to be outflanked, Abdullah issued a statement through Bernama and said that he had advised Guan Eng to be careful with his statements as he was now a chief minister. Their different take on what was the news point of their discussion shows how important posturing is to politicians.

Guan Eng said he received the assurance that major infrastructure projects in the state will continue to be funded and driven by the Federal government.

He also made the case for Petronas to fund the Penang Second Bridge, a point he has repeatedly pushed since Election 2008 vaulted him and other members of the People’s Pact into the state assembly.

It was always going to be a tough sell but Guan Eng showed that he was not awed by the setting.

[More at http://www.malaysianinsider.net/mni/pm-meets-guan-eng-30-mins-2-statements-no-feelings-hurt.html]