The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been urged to investigate the Penang government's plan to distribute RM100 to senior citizens in the state.

oh tong keong penang gerakan youth sec Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong said investigations are necessary in view of the perception that this is a form of corruption.

He based his claim on an incident  during a dinner organised by the Poh Hock Seah temple last Saturday in Penang, at which Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was the guest-of-honour.

In his speech, Lim had asked if the move, to be implemented next month, could be deemed a form of corruption.

"Lim asked the audience whether this is corruption. He repeated the question thrice and each time the senior citizens stood up to say 'yes',” Oh said in a statement today.

"Apparently caught unawares by their answer, Lim said the state government was only  trying to share its 'riches' with the people.”

Oh also described the incident as a source of embarrassment for the state government.

lim guan eng "We are not against the state government helping senior citizens or the people. But it should implement policies sincerely to benefit the people, and not for political mileage," he said.

On Feb 28, Lim (right) had announced that the state government would implement the measure as part of the state's Senior Citizens Appreciation Programme to assist and appreciate the elderly.

He said 62,000 of the 132,000 senior citizens in the state had registered for the programme through the service centres of state assemblypersons.

Participation in the programme is subject to eligibility. Registered participants can verify their details at the programme website .