UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says he will meet DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng after the latter claimed that Umno ministers have not been as helpful to Penang or Lim’s Bagan constituency.

“I’ll have to meet him,” said Zahid when asked by reporters on Tuesday to comment on Lim’s quip during the budget debate last week. Lim had thanked government ministers for helping Penang and his constituency, but added that “Umno ministers were a little lacking”.

Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, recounted to reporters that he once received a 3am phone call from Lim, when he was Penang chief minister, seeking federal aid.

Zahid said he was in Sarawak at the time and he immediately rushed to Penang to help. “So (he should) remember that… He shouldn’t be making all sorts of accusations when he’s not in the government any more,” said Zahid.

The deputy prime minister did not provide details about the date of Lim’s call or the nature of the help he requested. However, Lim was reported to have sought federal aid when Penang suffered widespread flooding in November 2017.

Lim was the Penang chief minister from 2008 to 2018, after which he was appointed finance minister when Pakatan Harapan won the 2018 general election.

FMT has sought a response from Lim. – FMT