Oh’s comments come in the wake of Lim’s “I love Penang” campaign, which followed a suggestion by a federal minister that the state be placed under direct federal rule like Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.

Lim has rejected the idea and mooted this campaign to unite Penangites.

Oh said Lim should first address environmental concerns, such as the illegal clearing of hills and the rapid buy-out of George Town’s heritage properties by foreigners.

“Lim Guan Eng, do you sincerely love Penang? If you really, really love Penang, please save it first,” Oh said at a press conference at the state Gerakan headquarters here.

Oh said after nine years of opposition rule in the state, Penang had not been given the tender loving care it should have been given.

To prove his point, he said non-governmental organisation Penang Forum had revealed that about 30 hills in the state had been cleared, most of them approved by the local authorities.

Penang Forum was reported in the media as saying nine hills had been illegally cleared, 14 had been cleared with approval from the state government and that five other clearings were being investigated after landslips.

“What happened to the Penang government’s hill watch programme? The DAP government clearly is not fulfilling its responsibilities properly.”

Oh said election promises such as no parking fees for council lots over the weekend had not been fulfilled either.

He said promises to abolish toll at a Butterworth expressway had also been “conveniently forgotten” by the state government.

“Is this how you show your love for Penang, Lim? Get your priorities straight.

“It is clear the DAP-led government is a populist government, not a government that is genuinely bothered to govern responsibly,” Oh said.