Dressed in a Baju Melayu and songkok ensemble, Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong Khan Lee drew much praises.
“My girlfriend got me the kain songket and I had the black Baju Melayu made specially for this occasion,” he smiled.
“I just got a hair cut after more than a month of letting it grow,” he said.
For the album: Assemblymen getting ready for a group photograph. Sporting a white collared blue shirt, Batu Uban assemblyman VS Raveentharan said he was dressed in PKR colours.
With his orange-framed glasses, polka-dot tie and blue shirt, he was by far the most colourful character in the assembly.
Several DAP leaders, including Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (Air Putih), Ng Wei Aik (Komtar), Law Choo Kiang (Bukit Tambun), Danny Law (Batu Lanchang) and A. Ta-nasekharan (Bagan Dalam), opted for ties in the party’s colour – red.
Among those present to witness the event were Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh, Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong and state PKR chief and Bayan Baru MP Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim.
With had raised: Lim taking his oath at the swearing-in ceremony. Karpal Singh, who is also the DAP national chairman, was there to watch his son Jagdeep Singh Deo swear in as Datuk Keramat assemblyman.
He said he was “very proud” of his sons Jagdeep and Gobind (who was sworn in as Puchong MP recently).
“Each of them has his own talent and personality so I am very proud of them both. They may not have “teeth” as strong as mine yet, but with exposure and experience, I am sure they will also have my ‘bite’,” Karpal Singh said.
Asked what was his hope for his sons, Karpal Singh said he wanted them to be guided by their conscience.
“They must remember that their duty is to the constituents so they must speak up without fear if truth is on their side. That has always been my guiding principle,” he said.
Little bit of help: Lim helping to adjust Abdul Halim's attire. Speaking to reporters later, Abdul Halim said the state assembly sitting proper would be held on a yet-to-be-determined date in July.
“I believe the sitting will go on smoothly and the proceedings will be interesting as there is a mix of new and experienced assemblymen.
“I want to promote healthy debates and I will be flexible when it comes to the time allowed for supplementary questions,” he said, adding that it was okay to criticise but it must be done constructively.
“I want everyone to make full use of his time in the assembly,” he said, promising to be fair in discharging his duties.
Although the Opposition members were expected to nominate their own Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Opposition whip Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said they did not do so as it was “pointless”.
“We do not want to waste time just for the sake of publicity,” he said.
During the event, the assembly observed a minute of silence as a sign of respect to former Speaker Datuk Ooi Ean Kwong who passed away on Dec 3 last year.
PENANG: The state government will adopt the Northern Corridor Implementation Agency Act which empowers the agency to implement plans for the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) despite its earlier reservations.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state decided to adopt the Act to speed up economic development in the region and federal projects in Penang.
Penang is believed to be the first of the four states (the others are Perlis, Perak and Kedah) under the NCER to endorse the Act.
Lim said the state executive council had discussed the issue at great lengths for almost two months before coming to a decision at its meeting on Friday.
“We were initially concerned that the Act would threaten the state government’s power and cause it to diminish. However, under the Act’s Clause 1 (5), all decisions made by the agency have to be done unanimously.
“As I’ll be sitting in the agency’s committee by virtue of my position as Chief Minister, I can ensure that Penang’s interests will be protected,” he told newsmen Saturday before meeting delegates from the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (Penang branch) and Malaysian Institute of Planners (Penang branch) at his Komtar office.
Lim said the agency’s 11 members were the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, the heads of the four states, two federal ministers, a government officer and two representatives from the private sector.
He distributed to newsmen copies of a letter dated March 20 from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who requested him to endorse the Act so that its implementation could take effect on April 1.
On his meeting with the engineers and planners, Lim said he wanted to get their views on how to improve Penang.
He also said the state would invite qualified professionals to sit in the Penang Tender Board's Committee.
"We are also keen to get retired engineers to sit in the Penang Planning Appeals Board regardless of their race, religion, gender and political ties," he added.
Penang to meet King over religious council presidency
0 comments Posted by YB. R.S.N. Rayer at 10:45 PMPENANG: The state government will seek an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin to discuss the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAIPP) presidency.
Met after the state assembly swearing-in ceremony yesterday, Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin said the state had its own candidate in mind to take over the presidency from Umno assemblyman Shabudin Yahaya.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin “We have sent a request to the palace in the hope of meeting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Hopefully, we can have an audience with the King sometime this month,” he said.
On May 1, a Malay daily reported that Permatang Berangan assemblyman Shabudin Yahaya would remain MAIPP president despite the state government wanting him to vacate the position.
The King, as the state’s head of Islam, has reportedly asked Shabudin to continue holding the position until his term of appointment expires in December next year.
Mohammad Fairus, who is also the state Religious Affairs, Entrepreneurial and Co-operative Development Committee chairman, said the King had yet to hear the state’s side of the story.
“I believe that this matter can be resolved but it must be handled wisely,” he said.
Opposition whip Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said the King’s decision was non-political.
“This is related to religious administration. If it is a political decision, then we can still debate the issue, but this is not. So as ordinary citizens, we should just accept the decision,” he said.
PENANG: A German investor who planned to invest nearly RM1bil in the solar panel industry has turned away from Penang because the state cannot meet its demand for gas.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that although there was a gas pipeline linking Seberang Prai to Kuala Lumpur, no gas was channelled here.
“We have a gas pipeline with no gas. This is rather odd. It will deter potential investors, especially those in the high-tech industry, from coming to Penang,” he told a press conference yesterday.
“I have asked Petronas, which I believe is in charge of the gas pipeline, to meet me on this matter.”
Lim said the German investor had expressed interest to invest in Penang two weeks ago but backed out after discovering that the state could not meet the industry’s high gas demand.
“I don’t know how Malaysia can export gas to Japan but does not have enough for local consumption,” he said.
Earlier outside the assembly, Opposition whip Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said he had “never” supported the building of the second Penang bridge and monorail.
“From day one, I had criticised the construction of these projects because of the huge costs involved.
“We do not need a second bridge. Instead the money should be used to buy a huge plot of land on the mainland so that we can implement the ‘park and drive’ system.
“Commuters can use the ferry instead,” he said.
Penang wants to discuss 9MP projects with Federal Govt
1 comments Posted by YB. R.S.N. Rayer at 6:29 PM KUALA LUMPUR, MON:
Unsure of the status of projects for the state under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), Penang Chief Minister Lim Guang Eng wants to have further discussions on the projects with the Federal government.
“That’s why I think it’s better for us to meet face-to-face on the matter rather than finding out about it from media reports which may not be accurate,” he said when asked about the 9MP projects in Penang, after attending the Dewan Rakyat sitting here today.
Lim said Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop had informed him today that a local media report yesterday which said the monorail project would be temporarily shelved, was not true.
“I was made to understand by him (Nor Mohamed) that there were two conflicting reports on the matter. Which one should we believe? I like to believe the more positive report,” he added.
Meanwhile, he refuted the statement by former Penang chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon that the state government had given the contract for the monorail project to the Melewar Group.
“We have only received a proposal and are looking at it. I think in a week and two weeks’ time we will be briefed by Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (on the proposed project).
“The state government has not made any decision on this. If there is, we will tender out the project. We have not made a decision and then only will issue an open tender as claimed (by Koh),” Lim said.
PENANG: Re-routing the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry funds via a different body such as Mara is a new form of colonialism, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.Lim hoped Minister Datuk Noh Omar would reconsider the decision as such a move would give a wrong impression to the public.
For years, it has been the practice by the Ministry to channel funds worth RM100 mil a year to the respective State Economic Development Corporations.The money was used for purposes such as upgrading facilities and financing programmes for the benefit of the people.
However, on Saturday Noh announced that the funds would be channelled via Mara, to prevent the rakyat from being "victimised". He did not explain what he meant by the word "victimised".
Such a move was tantamount to forming a parallel government, Lim told reporters during the Mount Miriam Hospital "Ho Chiak" Charity Food and Fun Fair on Sunday.
Lim said that even now there was a separate tourism action council in the state, and the council did not have representatives from the state.
“If this goes on and they (federal government) set up a parallel system and parallel frameworks or other councils, it would be seen as a form of colonialism.
He said the state government would not object to the setting up of similar type of action councils but there should be state representation.
Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin will head it.
“The committee will also look into issues involving escalating cost and the proposed toll charges. We do want Penangites to suffer,” Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.
He also said that they were in the dark over land acquisition problems for the proposed second bridge as claimed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
“The state did not have access to such information, other than from the newspapers.”
He said there was no line of communication with the state and federal governments to discuss arising problems.
“We have directed the state Economics Planning Unit (EPU) to expedite the process. We have given full co-operation as far as land matters are concerned,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Lim said this in response to Abdullah’s statement that land acquisition problems were among the factors that caused the delay in the construction of the second bridge. Other major problems highlighted were design and cost.
Lim said the design and cost issues were under the purview of the Federal Government.
On the proposed monorail project, Lim said the state government was waiting for a second meeting with Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) to further discuss the project.
He said the state had also met with Melewar Industrial Group recently.
“We are looking at the proposals. The im-portant factors are the maximum number of people who would benefit, and whether the project could help reduce traffic congestion,” he said.
He also added that appointments to the Penang Tourism Council would be tabled next week during the state executive council meeting.
“We want to make sure suitable people are appointed to hold the posts,” he said.
Penang CM to continue picking competent people to serve state
1 comments Posted by YB. R.S.N. Rayer at 12:51 PMHe said he would continue with the policy to give opportunity to anyone with good credentials and capability to serve the state, in line with his competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) approach.
“I will not run away from taking responsibility over the decisions that I have made.
“I am confident the party (DAP) will support my decision. We want to implement the CAT approach, and we must start somewhere,” said Lim who is also DAP secretary-general.
Lim said this in response to mixed reaction from DAP leaders over the appointment of former Gerakan deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon as InvestPenang executive chairman and director of the Penang Development Corporation.
Among those who opposed the move was DAP chairman Karpal Singh.
“We will discuss during a meeting with DAP MPs on Sunday. I will talk about the policy and spirit of good governance. I hope to get them to agree that we should adopt the new approach,” he said.
Lim said even Barisan Nasional had appointed then DAP secretary-general and former Kota Melaka MP Kerk Kim Hock as National Unity Advisory Panel member in 2004.
“When Kerk accepted the post, the party did not demand his resignation. In fact, I even congratulated him,” he added.
Lim, however, acknowledged that the posts offered to Lee were much higher.
PETALING JAYA: The Penang Government will continue to offer posts to people who are “competent, accountable and transparent” regardless of which political party they belong to.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he was serious about wanting to forge a new paradigm that cuts across the political divide and brings people together, including those “who did not vote for us” to contribute to the betterment of the state.
He said while this was “something new and ground-breaking” he certainly did not expect the move to be “criticised and condemned in such strong terms by top national (Barisan Nasional) leaders.”
“Are we going to grow up and grow out of the outdated mindset? The time has come to look at the content of character rather than colour of skin or the gods you pray to or the respective political beliefs that you hold,” he told a press conference yesterday.
He stressed that the DAP-led Penang government would have no second thoughts about offering other clean and competent Barisan leaders in the state a post.
“If we have the confidence they can serve, we will appoint them.
“If they feel they don't want to take on the pressure they have a right not to continue and we respect their wishes and we will not condemn them,” he added.
He was commenting on former Gerakan deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon quitting the party after coming under fire from Barisan leaders for accepting the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) director and InvestPenang executive committee chairman posts from the Penang government.
Lim stressed that the state government never made it a requirement that Lee or any other Barisan leader in the state leave their respective parties to accept any state appointment “but even that is seen as unacceptable.”
On why he picked Lee, a lawyer and a former parliamentary secretary, who had no business experience to head PDC, Lim said: “Did Koh Tsu Koon have experience in business when he became the Penang Chief Minister. He was only an academic.”
“Campaigning is over. The losers should respect the wishes of the people and co-operate instead of trying to sabotage or undermine the efforts of those who had won,” he said, adding that the people expected a certain level of maturity from their politicians and elected representatives.
He also said Lee had agreed to serve although he was not being paid any monthly allowance.
BUKIT MERTAJAM:
The Penang government has expressed shock that the second Penang Bridge project would be delayed and disputed the federal government's claim that land acquisition was a contributing factor.
He said there was no reason for the federal government to cite land acquisition as the cause of the delay.
"I am shocked over the prime minister's announcement that work on the second Penang Bridge project will be delayed. I have just been informed about the matter and I do not understand why the project is being delayed," he said, adding the state government would seek an explanation soon.
Lim said this after attending the swearing-in ceremony of the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) councillors at its headquarters in Bandar Perda here today. Also present were state Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, state secretary Datuk Jamaludin Hasan and MPSP president Farizan Darus.
Lim said the delay would affect the cost of the project and questioned if the federal government was going back on its word that all projects planned for Penang would be carried out..
"Two weeks ago when I met the prime minister he assured me that the second Penang Bridge and other projects in the state that benefit the people would continue. Now we are being told that there is going to be a delay," he said.
Lim also questioned whether the delay would affect Penang's development as a logistics hub under the Northern Corridor Economic Region plan.
GEORGE TOWN, TUES:
The joint DAP-Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Penang state government has outlined five core areas for investPenang to draw more investment to Penang.
- To accelerate the growth of small and medium-size industries/entrepreneurs which form the backbone of Penang's economy;
- To get new investments into the state;
- To get re-investments from existing companies operating here;
- To further enhance and support Bumiputera participation; and
- To develop a skill competency centre to draw in more cutting edge technology investments such as bio-tech.
He also announced deputy chief minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin as investPenang chairman and deputy chief minister II Prof P. Ramasamy as the deputy chairman.
Lim also stressed on the importance of `after investment networking` where he encouraged investPenang officers to be in constant contact with investors.
"This is especially so for those who invest heavily in the state, say RM1 billion or more.
"It should also be applied to critical cutting edge technology companies. We want our investors to have confidence in us and we want them to know we are concerned about them," he said.
PENANG: A DAP state executive councillor has invited an Umno assemblyman to sit in the state government committee which he chairs.
Penang Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh sent a formal invitation to Sungai Acheh assemblyman Datuk Mahmud Zakaria on Friday to be part of the committee.
This is the first such overture from the Pakatan Rakyat since it seized control of the Penang, Perak, Kedah and Selangor governments from the Barisan Nasional in the recent general election.
The invitation by the Pakatan Rakyat to Mahmud is even more surprising as the latter was recently named as the “shadow exco” for the portfolio being held by Phee, a DAP veteran who was the party’s only victor in the 2004 general election.
“With his appointment as shadow exco, I am inviting him to sit in my committee so that he can get first-hand information and be part of the decision-making process.
“With Datuk Mahmud in the committee, it would provide better check and balance and transparency.
“This is my sincere invitation and I also want to prove to voters in Penang that we don’t believe in revenge politics,” Phee said after launching the Toastmasters International District 51’s 15th annual convention yesterday.
Mahmud said he had yet to receive Phee’s letter.
The DAP-led Penang Government was also reported to be planning to appoint former Gerakan deputy secretary-general Lee Kah Choon to a key post in InvestPenang and also offer him a director’s post in the Penang Development Corporation (PDC).
Met at the Penang Teong Guan Association dinner at the Han Chiang High School hall last night, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government welcomed anyone who was willing to help the administration for the benefit of Penangites.
“As long as you are able and willing to participate, we will welcome your contribution regardless of race, religion or political background.
“There is no discrimination when it comes to political leanings,” he said, adding that there was a place for those with special expertise so long as they wanted to work for the people.
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Penang Government will meet the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department at the end of this month to discuss the delay in delivering the second Penang bridge project.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Prime Minister’s Department called for the meeting following his remarks and unhappiness over the late delivery of the bridge by nine months.
“We are sincere about cooperating with the Federal Government to build the bridge and if they adopt an attitude not to discuss or give the state government its due attention on the project, we would be forced to think of alternatives (to address this issue),” Lim said after launching the Padang Lalang assemblyman service centre in Kota Permai yesterday.
He declined to say the alternative measures he had in mind.
However, he said, the state government prefers to “find ways to make things work” at the meeting.
He said it was fair for the state government to be allowed to question on the delay and other details pertaining the second bridge project.
“The state government, being a friend and strategic partner in the development of the second Penang bridge, should be included in discussions and decisions on the matter,” he said.
News reports said that the Federal Government had set the cost of the bridge at RM4.3bil over the previous estimate of RM3.5bil.
UEM Builders, on the other hand, in a statement to Bursa Malaysia stated that the completion of the bridge would be extended for another nine months “in order to allow additional time for fulfilment of the conditions precedent as set out in the agreement.”
PENANG: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has expressed disappointment over news that the completion of the Second Link or second Penang Bridge would be delayed. Responding to reports that the second link would need an extra nine months to be completed, Lim said bridge contractor UEM Builders Bhd had yet to inform the state about the delay.
“All we know is what we read in the newspapers.
“It seems that the promise made by Tan Sri Zaini Omar (the second bridge’s special task force head) to complete the Second Link by 1 Jan 2011 remains an unfulfilled promise.
“We are very disheartened with the delay and higher costs of the project as in the end, Penangites will be the ones to pay more,” Lim said after visiting the recently resumed Penang Hill funicular railway Thursday morning.
News reports said the Federal Government had set the cost of the bridge at RM4.3bil over the previous estimate of RM3.5bil.
Lim said the project delay and lack of information from the Federal Government was disappointing.
“The state government is ready and willing to work with the Federal Government, however, we don’t seem to be getting any response.
"This is not a healthy way for the Federal Government to react to the sincerity of the new state government,” he said.
Lim added that “other measures” would be looked into if the state continued to get the cold shoulder from the Federal Government, but declined to elaborate.
BUTTERWORTH: All tenders awarded by the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) will be put up for public scrutiny in line with the Pakatan Rakyat State Government's transparency policy.
Council president Farizan Darus, who said this would be implemented with immediate effect, added that the contractors' particulars would be displayed and the public would have two weeks to object or provide feedback.
Farizan said from now, the council would only go for “value for money” contracts.
He said the council would be prudent in its spending to reduce its budget deficit and increase its reserves which stood at RM18mil at the end of 2007.
He added that a big chunk of the council’s operating cost was spent on waste collection and staff salaries and emoluments.
“We cannot reduce salaries and expenses for contracts which had been signed such as those for waste disposal and development projects.
“We now have to fork out RM48mil yearly to pay our staff while another RM50mil is spent on waste management annually,” Farizan said.
The council has also set up a committee to recover assessment arrears which stood at RM36mil.
Over the last two weeks, the council has come under scrutiny by the new Penang government which was concerned that its reserves had plunged from RM229mil in 2000 to RM25.6mil last year.
It had an accumulated deficit of RM226mil over eight years.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the findings of an independent auditor into the financial status of the council would be made public as the people had the right to know.
PENANG: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has given former deputy chief minister Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah until April 28 to explain himself over alleged land improprieties under the previous administration.
Failing which, the state government will reveal all details, Lim said after the state executive councillor meeting on Wednesday.
The land improprieties had resulted in millions of ringgit being siphoned off state coffers, the new state government has alleged.
Abdul Rashid, also the former chairman of the state’s development and land affairs committee, has denied knowledge of any land improprieties.
He also reportedly cautioned Lim against making “blind allegations without any proof in hand” and lambasted the new state government for not knowing how to run its administration.
He suggested Lim “take lessons on land administration before making allegations about land discrepancies”.
“Initially I had not planned to expose the details just yet, nor had I made any accusations because I wanted to give Abdul Rashid a chance to explain why premium discounts were given to certain quarters and why state land was alienated to some big companies,” Lim had said earlier.
PENANG: Details of alleged land improprieties that resulted in millions of ringgit being siphoned off the state coffers will be revealed Wednesday.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he was taking up a challenge by former Deputy Chief Minister and Land Development and Land Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah to reveal the details.
“We will discuss the matter during the state exco meeting. If all exco members agree, we will go public,” he told newsmen Tuesday after receiving a courtesy call from the Penang Chinese Clan Council at his office.
“Initially I had not planned to expose the details yet, nor have I made any accusations because I wanted to give Abdul Rashid a chance to explain why premium discounts were given to certain quarters and why state land was alienated to some big companies.
“We are not out to get anyone but since he has challenged me to reveal the details, I will do so,” he said, adding that he definitely wanted to meet with the latter.
“If he (Abdul Rashid) claims not to know of any land improprieties, I will tell him and let him explain. Come and see me. Do not give the reason that I did not issue an official invitation.
“Today I am making an official invitation in the media for him to come. I hope he will cooperate,” he said, adding that it was very odd that Abdul Rashid had expected him to send an official invitation to clarify the matter.
“When I want to meet the Prime Minister, I have to write in. When others want to meet with me, they write an official letter,” he said.
Lim was commenting on Abdul Rashid’s challenge for him to expose the alleged land discrepancy cases that have supposedly taken place under the previous state administration.
GEORGE TOWN, Mon:
The Penang government plans to pass a law to allow non-profit educational institutions which not sited on state land to pay only RM1 in quit rent.
At present, government-owned schools are only paying RM1 as quit rent while other schools not located on state land are paying their quit rent according to market rates.
The quit rent is assessed once every 10 years.
Lim urged such schools to apply to the state land and mines department to allow them to also pay only RM1 in quit rent.
"It has always been the DAP-PKR state governemnt's policy not to discriminate when it comes to education. We also believe that education should not be politicised," he said after a visit by a delegation from the United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) today.
State Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang told a press conference on Monday that the ministry had promised to allocate the sum three years ago when the state placed its bid to host the event.
Law urged the ministry to honour its pledge, saying that the state was short on time to make the necessary arrangements and it would affect the image of Penang and Malaysia if the event were cancelled.
He said 159 teams with more than 4,400 participants from 22 foreign countries have registered for the CCWC and the eighth Asian Dragon Boat Championship (ADBC), to be held concurrently at the Teluk Bahang Dam, adding that this was the first time an Asian country would be hosting the event.
Law said by the end of last year, the Ministry forwarded only RM500,000 to the Penang Tourism Action Council (PTAC) for the CCWC but the funds had yet to be transferred as the PTAC was awaiting the ministry's approval.
He also said the state government had approved RM200,000 for the two events, which would cost the organisers an estimated RM2mil. The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), as the main sponsor, will bear the infrastructure costs at the site.
Law is chairing the organising committee for both events in his capacity as the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival (PIDBF) committee chairman.
BUTTERWORTH: The findings of the private auditor into the financial status of Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP), whose reserves fell from RM229mil in 2000 to just RM25.6mil at the end of 2007, will be made public.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the public had the right to know how the council’s reserves had come down.
“If the municipal council had built a lapangan terbang (airport) here, perhaps we can understand."
“But, there is no lapangan terbang and yet the money could terbang (fly),” he said.
Lim said those who were not involved in any mishandling of funds need not fear as the auditing process was merely aimed at improving the council’s performance.
“But the guilty ones who took public money and became very rich will be investigated,” he said when opening Bagan Dalam assemblyman A. Tanasekharan’s service centre in Jalan Bagan Luar here yesterday.
He said the new state government was worried the council would be broke by the end of the year.
Lim said many expected the new state government to continue helping the people with big projects, but that would not be possible when there were no more reserves.
“If there are disasters, we will definitely help the people. But to come up with projects, we must look at our financial situation first,” he said.
On April 1, state Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the council, with an accumulated deficit of RM226mil over the last eight years, had been scraping the bottom of the barrel.
On April 4, former councillor Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan said large portions of the council’s reserves were spent on the State Stadium in Batu Kawan (RM110mil), the council’s headquarters (RM83mil), Dewan Milenium (RM24mil) and the Central Seberang Prai district sports complex (RM12.8mil).
Penang Consumer Protection Association president K. Koris said the council could have retained high reserves if it had asked for federal funds to build its headquarters and a district sports complex.
Sungai Dua assemblyman Datuk Jasmin Mohamed called for the council to tutup kedai (close shop) and hand over its duties to the state government if it was incapable of handling its finances.
He said the council’s land administrative duties should also be surrendered to the three district offices in Seberang Prai.
Meanwhile, Lim has invited former deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah to discuss matters pertaining to alleged land discrepancies.
Abdul Rashid, who is also the former chairman for state Land Affairs and Land Development Committees, had last week denied knowledge of allegations made by the present state government.
Lim also said he was still waiting for former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon to meet him to discuss matters pertaining to the previous state administration.
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