GEORGE TOWN: The Penang state government is proposing to set up an agency -- the Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) -- which will give the state government more clout to protect and preserve the state's heritage, in line with George Town's inscription as a Unesco World Heritage site.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said although the CMI was set up to add a new dimension the investment climate in the state, the main focus of CMI would be heritage-related.

Lim was asked during a press conference to elaborate on the speech given by Penang Governor Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas at the opening of the second meeting of the 12th state legislative assembly.

An enactment on the setting up of the CMI would be tabled at the sitting.

"Whilst InvestinPenang Berhad will focus on attracting investments, the state government is committed to introduce and enable legislature to promote and preserve heritage.

"It will involve all related sectors including real estate, housing, manufacturing and tourism.

"This legislature is also to facilitate jurisdiction in the heritage aspects and regularising what was not there in the past," said Lim.

He added that as other states had their respective CMI agencies, it was time for Penang to have its own.

He said CMI's role would also encompass holding in trust all government-owned property.

Lim said further details on CMI would be unveiled when the enactment was tabled during the sitting.

At the same press conference, Lim was also asked to comment on the purported order issued to four television stations owned by Media Prima not to mention the names of Razak Baginda, prime minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor whenever any news of murdered Mongolian Altantuya Sharibuu is mentioned.

"The new ministers of Home Affairs and Information must clarify if such a directive was issued as there should not be such censorship.

"It is very unusual for such a gag order to be issued, especially when the Information minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim talks about Freedom of Information, Right of Reply and Freedom of Access, which is stipulated under the Bill of Guarantees," Lim said.