If given the choice, several developers would prefer the BN government which seldom issues stop work orders through its local councils, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in a press conference today.

Under Pakatan rule, Lim said that the Penang Island Municipal Council had issued 259 stop work orders from 2008 to this year - compared to the 38 issued between 2004-2007.

The Seberang Perai Municipal Council, he stressed, had issued 11 directives to stop work from 2008 to this year, while not one was issued from 2003-2008.

Lim said the hike in stop work orders proves that the Pakatan government in Penang is stricter in enforcing technical compliance and is less forgiving compared to the previous administration.

However, Lim added that the state government is business friendly as Pakatan welcomes investors and business people as long as they comply with the law.

"There is no culture of corruption in Penang, (we have) an open tender system, and technical knowledge is the priority, not who you know," said Lim.

"There is no point to be proud of having a close relationship with the state executive councillors and the chief minister as compliance with the law is more important," he added.

Lim was responding to continuing accusations of approving hill slope development in Penang, with the latest resulting in a protest organised by Consumers Association of Penang on Monday, outside a high rise building being constructed along Bukit Gambiar.