GEORGE TOWN, Oct 22 ― Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he was not in the Dewan Rakyat when opposition members of Parliament walked out while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was tabling the 2017 Budget yesterday.

He said he had to leave much earlier to receive the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail in George Town for the 200th anniversary of the Penang Free School yesterday.

He told this to reporters after launching the 2016 World Architects Day of the Northern Chapter of the Malaysian Institute of Architects here today.

Nevertheless, he said he understood why they acted they way they did. Opposition Members of Parliament from DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Parti Amanah Negara and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin walked out of the Dewan Rakyat during the tabling of the budget, themed "Ensuring Unity and Economic Growth, Inclusive Prudent Spending, Wellbeing of the Rakyat”, was still underway.

They also created a ruckus and exhibited placards with cynical messages before trooping out.

Commenting on the 2017 Budget, Lim said the state government hoped the federal government would approve its request for the expansion of the Penang International Airport (LTAPP).

He said this was because LTAPP was now very congested with passengers exceeding the capacity of 6.5 million a year, which was actually projected for 2020. ― Bernama