During the launch of a dental programme at the National Mosque, Balik Pulau MP Dr Hilmi Yahaya claimed that the DAP-led Penang government “only aided the rich in the state and, as such, had caused an increase in the urban poverty rate”.

Making such a sweeping statement that lacks factual information only makes his credentials as a minister more questionable. It is obvious that Dr Hilmy is only creating a diversion and merely mouthing fabricated lies, as our nation’s 14th general election draws closer, this sort of demonising is expected and does not come as a surprise to well-informed Malaysians.

As a Member of Parliament in Penang, there is without a shadow of doubt that Dr Hilmy has witnessed, first-hand, how the DAP-led Penang state government has improved the lives of Penangites.

Since 2008, the DAP-led Penang state government has also initiated numerous welfare programmes and other financial assistance program to aid the poor, senior citizens, single mothers, students, and other needy groups. It should be noted that despite facing economic constraints, the state government continues to pledge allocation to continue these programmes and in 2016, roughly RM61million was set aside.

Penang’s Equitable Economic Agenda (Agenda Ekonomi Saksama/AES) was initiated by the state government with the sole purpose of easing families from monetary hardship by ‘topping up’ household income so each family receives a minimum of RM790 a month.

To guarantee effectiveness, several conditions were put in place; beneficiaries of the system must not neglect health factors and their children’s education. These conditions are set to also prevent misuse and abuse of power. By the end of 2016, 1375 families were given financial assistance - 81 percent of the recipients were Malays, 11.35 percent Indians and 7.05 percent Chinese.

In the same report, Dr Hilmy was quoted to have said many “Chinese were dissatisfied and had lost confidence with the current state administration due to economic matters” and that when factories were forced to shut down, 6,000 people lost their jobs, perhaps a reference to the closure of US-based Rubicon Sapphire Technology (M) Sdn Bhd.

Contrary to what Dr Hilmy may want Malaysians to believe, Penang continues to gain the confidence of both local and foreign investors.

Within just seven years (from 2008 to 2014), the number of direct investments increased by 93 percent to RM48.2 billion compared to RM24.9 billion from 2001 to 2007 - during Barisan Nasional’s administration. In the first half of 2015, Penang has attracted worth of RM4.33 billion in investments and a total of 13,199 jobs have been created in early 2016 alone.

A minister at the federal level should know the basic demand and supply nature of economics - closures of factories, such as Rubicon Sapphire Technology (M) Sdn Bhd, are often influenced by factors such as production costs and factors heavily influenced by Barisan Nasional-led federal government policies.

DAP has been consistent in implementing government policies that are competent, accountable, and transparent - where not a single ethnic group has been left out or marginalised in Penang. The illogical narratives drummed up by Barisan Nasional and their leaders are downright preposterous; if anything, they are the ones who benefit the most from corrupt practices and rely heavily on the crony economy system that does absolutely nothing for the common people.

In the past nine years since taking over the Penang state government, DAP has proven to help the common people and more so those who are in need of assistance, regardless of race and religion. Barisan Nasional, on the other hand, is still stuck in the same discordant ‘divide and rule’ politics of fear.

Improving welfare shouldn’t be something that happens once in a lifetime and if they are truly prihatin-rakyat as they claim to be, it’s time they formulate people-centric policies that can provide long-term benefits for generations to come.

SYERLEENA ABDUL RASHID is DAP Wanita national assistant publicity secretary, Penang DAP assistant publicity secretary, Penang DAP Wanita political education director and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillor.