From The Touchlines

SEBERANG JAYA: A malicious SMS spreading around Penang, urging Penangites to boycott their favourite nasi kandar stalls and restaurants, have caused business in the state to plummet. The SMS had accused nasi kandar operators of backing Umno’s illegal gathering to protest the Penang Government’s move not to carry out the New Economic Policy.

Malaysia Muslim Restaurant Operators Association president Sihabutheen Sirudu Mohamad said today members’ businesses had been badly affected by the SMS.

The public, he said, had the wrong information by claiming that nasi kandar restaurant workers were involved in the illegal gathering.

“We lost customers, most notably the Chinese,” he said. “I hope the public will not believe in such rumours being spread by those who are irresponsible.”

Meanwhile, the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) denied urging the boycott, condemning those responsible for trying to take advantage and accusing the organisation of spreading the boycott call.
Hindraf national coordinator R. S. Thainenthiran told a press conference today that the irresponsible act had led to a decline in the nasi kandar restaurant business in the state.

“I want to stress that we were never involved in releasing statements of any form to boycott nasi kandar restaurants,” he said. “Last Friday, there were certain people who claimed that Indian Muslims were involved in the gathering but these nasi kandar restaurants have nothing to do with it.

“Therefore, we urge everyone not to listen to this rumour. Nasi kandar restaurant operators are carrying out their business and were not involved in any gathering,” he said.

Thainenthiran expressed hope that the rumour mongering would be stopped immediately as it hurt people’s rice bowl.

He appealed to loyal customers, especially the Chinese, not to be influenced by the rumour. “Business is business, and it must not be associated with politics,” he said.

GEORGE TOWN: The newly-formed DAP-PKR joint state government announced today fresh freebies for the people of Penang during its first state executive councillor’s meeting.

In this latest round, some 1,465 Kafa (obligatory religious requirement) teachers will receive a one-off RM600 ex-gratia payment effective April 1. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Exco approved a RM879,000 allocation for the purpose.

When announcing the news earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin said the payment was made in appreciation of the religious teachers’ sacrifices and good work in educating the young in the state.

“We appreciate what the teachers are doing and to repay them, the state Exco has agreed to an ex-gratia payment,” he told a Press conference after the Exco meeting. The meeting, which concluded way past lunch time, was chaired by Lim.

In his first press conference upon his swearing-in as chief minister a week ago, Lim announced the waiver of all outstanding parking and hawker license summons issued by the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) and Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) before he took office. The one-off arrangement was made to help reduce the burden of the people, especially the poor.
In today’s meeting, Lim said the Exco also discussed on the controversial RM25 billion Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project.

He reiterated that no approval had been given for the project, especially from the MPPP.

Lim said the developer of the project was disallowed from further promoting and selling contents of the project but can submit a new application through the normal procedure.

On the appointment of new MPPP and MPSP councillors, Lim said he would make an announcement on the matter at an appropriate time after getting advice from the state legal adviser. It was reported that all 44 MPPP and MPSP councillors had tendered their resignations in batches.

GEORGE TOWN: All procurement contracts below RM50,000 will be done on a drawing by rotation basis. The Penang Exco decided this to avoid disruptions in efforts to carry out the open tender system.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said procurement contracts above RM50,000 would be carried out on an open tender basis.

“For both methods, the respective quarters will be given a period of two weeks to voice their objections. If the objections are accepted, the results of the open tender or drawing by rotation contracts will be reviewed,” he said after chairing the Exco meeting today.

Lim said the process required time but expressed hope that the system can be carried out as soon as possible.

The Exco also decided on the setting up of a land committee, which will be chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin and participated by deputy chief minister Dr P. Ramasamy and state Health, Welfare and Caring Society committee chairman Phee Boon Poh.

The committee would be responsible against any quarters involved in alleged land cheating cases as well as to draw up new guidelines to ensure cheating cases do not occur in future.

“There have been complaints on land cheating cases and these cases need to be investigated thoroughly,” he said.

On the missing documents and files in the state executive councillors’ offices, Lim said state Secretary Datuk Jamaludin Hasan would be carrying out an investigation into the matter.

It was reported that Jamaludin had directed the former executive councillors to clear out and vacate their offices to ensure a smooth transition in power. It was also reported that Phee had walked into his office, only to discover that files were missing and that there were no documents for reference.

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said now was the time for the newly-formed state government to deliver on their promises.

Lim said the state government was strong, united and ready to meet any quarters, including the opposition.

“Now is the time for us to deliver, to work and show the results of our efforts to the people. When we meet them, we can sense their support for us. They can see our honesty and sincerity when we carry out our work,” he said after a courtesy call by 10 church representatives in the state at his office here today.

The representatives who met Lim expressed their hope that problems being faced could be discussed according to national aspirations, and to ensure unity among the people.

Lim said so far, the opposition had not made contact on setting up a meeting with him, but reiterated that the state government was willing to meet people from various quarters.
On messages being circulated via SMS about street demonstrations being planned, Lim said law enforcers and the police would know what to do.

GEORGE TOWN: Gerakan acting president and former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has criticised the Komtar demonstration by Penang Umno members and supporters, saying that Koh said such action was not the proper way to convey views and express feelings, especially in a multi-ethnic society.

“This has been the stand of the Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional leadership,” he said. “All BN component parties should adhere to such a stand. We have to be consistent,” Koh said in a statement today.

Koh was responding to the demonstration by Penang Umno members and supporters at Komtar on Friday, who were protesting against chief minister Lim Guan Eng’s recent statement on abolishing the New Economic Policy (NEP).

Koh noted that even though street demonstrations may serve the purpose of allowing many people to vent their grievances and feelings or to raise awareness on certain issues, he cautioned that such acts may heighten tensions and even lead to conflict in a multi-racial society.

“Freedom of assembly should be used wisely and effectively,” he said. “Instead of street demonstrations, holding forums and seminars, as well as presenting memoranda with concrete proposals, supported by facts and figures, would be a more fruitful approach to resolve any issue, including measures to improve the socio-economic status of any disadvantaged community or group.”
“In this way, we can more objectively evaluate the programmes and measure the actual progress made within a certain timeframe, and hence more effectively put pressure on the DAP-led state government in Penang,” he said.

GEORGE TOWN: The Opposition coalition will meet soon to decide on who will become the Opposition leader in parliament. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said they needed to discuss this matter with the other parties in the coalition.

“This is not just about one party,” he said. “There needs to be support from two of the three main parties in the coalition to choose the Opposition leader. We will discuss this at another time, but for now the three parties are still busy forming the state governments.

“Our priority is now on the formation of the state governments,” he said at a press conference after launching the DAP National Leadership Convention here yesterday.

The convention was attended by party advisor Lim Kit Siang, national chairman Karpal Singh, life advisor Dr Chen Man Hin and the party’s state assemblyman and assemblywomen and members of parliament.

Lim said the Opposition leader would need to get support from all the parliamentarians and did not rule out the possibility of the leader having the highest number of votes being chosen.
However, he noted that he did not want to speculate as they wanted to reach a consensus with the other parties.

“We should be able to reach a consensus,” he said.

Lim said they would not make any announcements yet until the coalition had completed the formation of state governments in Perak and Selangor.

The Opposition coalition, comprising DAP, PKR and Pas secured a total of 82 out of the 222 parliamentary seats in the just-concluded general election. PKR secured the most with 31 seats, followed by DAP (28) and Pas (23), thus denying Barisan Nasional its two-thirds majority in parliament.

Earlier, Dr Chen, in his speech said DAP parliamentarians and state assemblymen would need to change their mindsets and work together with their partners PKR and Pas.
He described the three-party coalition as a wise and strategic move.

“Be co-operative with other parties. Keep the relationship among Pas and PKR going,” he said. “If we have that, we are guaranteed of a better future,” he told the leaders present.

He said Penang can be a model state for the other states, as success here as a multi-racial state would mean that the future is assured.

During the convention, DAP celebrated its 42 years of party establishment with the cutting of a cake.

By Lee Keng Fatt and Melissa Darlyne Chow

GEORGE TOWN: The DAP wants Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the future prime minister, party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said.

Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, said the DAP was backing Anwar because “he is widely accepted by everyone in the opposition”.

“We hope he is allowed to take his rightful place in parliament the soonest possible,” he said.

Speaking at the one-day DAP national leadership convention here, Lim urged party leaders and members not to rest on their laurels, but to start working immediately to fulfil the people’s needs.

He said the DAP would continue to work with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and other non-governmental organisations.
The DAP, Lim added, would double its membership by recruiting 100,000 new members before the next general election.

He also warned party members not to be complacent.

“Just as Malaysians voted for the DAP in this election, they can just as easily vote the party out, should we fail to deliver.”

He reminded members how the DAP had won a record number of state seats in Penang in 1990. But in 1995, the party suffered one of its worst electoral defeats.

Bernama has apologised to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for the “sloppy editing” in its news story on March 12 which mistakenly quoted Lim as commenting on the May 13 incident.

GEORGE TOWN: The issue of the Penang government marginalising anybody in the state does not arise following the apology letter issued by Bernama on Friday that stated that the news agency had mistakenly quoted Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said as commenting on the May 13, 1969 tragedy.

“I consider the issue closed, as the issue of DAP marginalising Penangites did not arise at all in the first place, Lim told a press conference after opening the Artistic Malaysia Gallery here today. “Until now, the state government has not implemented any policies that were not profitable to Penangites, except for one company. Even that is not a Bumiputera company.”

Bernama editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong said upon a thorough review, the inclusion of the fact along with Lim’s quote was deemed inappropriate. Yong noted the inclusion of the fact was intended to give background on the establishment of the NEP in 1971.

It was earlier reported that the new state government had outlined several reforms it plans to undertake in the state administration, starting with doing away with the practices under the NEP. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had warned Lim not to make statements which could stoke racial tension, which the latter later refuted.
Some 1,000 Penang Umno members and supporters had held demonstrations at Komtar on Friday in protest over Lim’s move to abolish the NEP.

Lim said the state government had only wanted all government procurement and contracts be done through the open tender system. Even this was made into an issue, then there was nothing he could do about it.

“We have to move forward. Let us move on to an era where there is transparency and integrity, to ensure the state’s resources can be shared among everyone. The Prime Minister has also given his assurance that federal government projects here will go on as usual. We cannot allow certain quarters to make an issue out of this. Penang Umno must respect the people’s wishes.

“Let us carry on with the task of leading the state, which has been entrusted to us by the people,” he said. “The state government has not discriminated anybody.”

Lim said he did not want to prolong the matter further and the state government would move on from here to implement policies that were beneficial to all Penangites.

By Sharanjit Singh and Melissa Darlyne Chow
news@nst.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who led the routing of Gerakan and MCA in Penang, will be sworn in as chief minister tomorrow.

Lim, who pledged to head a fair and open government, said he would be sworn in after the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat form the state government with more than a two-thirds majority.

The DAP won all 19 state seats it contested in Penang while PKR won nine and Pas managed to win one, bringing to 29 the total number of seats won by the opposition alliance. There are 40 state and 13 parliamentary seats in Penang. The DAP won seven parliamentary seats and PKR won four.

Lim said he was supposed to be sworn in today but outgoing chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon had asked it to be delayed by a day.

“I have been told that he wants to attend the ceremony. But he has to attend the swearing-in of the prime minister (today).”

He said the state government led by him would pursue investor-friendly policies to ensure that Penang retained its edge as the leading industrial and manufacturing centre in the region.

“We wish to assure investors that we recognise the importance of their major contributions to our state’s economy,” he said, adding that the manufacturing sector made up 42 per cent of the state’s gross domestic product and employed some 200,000 workers.

Lim said the DAP would also hold dialogues and consultations with industry, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, upon taking up the reins of the state government.

He said the newly elected members of parliament for Jelutong, Batu Kawan and Bayan Baru (Ooi Chuan Aun, Dr P. Ramasamy and Datuk Zaharin Mohd Hashim respectively) would be given the task of liaising with the relevant groups.

“We intend to fulfil our promises and will always put public interest first in the implementation or review of any projects or policies,” he said, adding that the new government would also insist on an open public tender system.

Asked whether Pas would be part of the new state government, he said the party was welcome to assist it.

Asked if the opposition had expected to wrest control of the state, he said: “Of course we were hopeful, but dared not raise our expectations too high. We are pleasantly surprised and thankful for this unexpected confidence placed in us by the people of Penang.”

On whether he would abolish the deputy chief minister’s post, Lim said he did not want to comment on the speculation as he wanted to work towards the formation of a new state government.

“The people of Penang expressed their wish for a change of government, and when we won all our contested seats, it was a 100 per cent mandate.

“The will of the people cannot be thwarted and must be respected.

“Koh has conceded defeat and has expressed his willingness to co-operate fully in the transition to a new government.”

On whether Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should remain as prime minister in spite of the huge Barisan Nasional losses nationwide, Lim said: “The point is, whatever our opinions about Pak Lah, he is the leader of BN.

“According to the Election Commission, BN secured a simple majority, which means, based on the law, they have the right to form the next government. Hence, he (Abdullah) has the right to be sworn in as prime minister.”

To a question on whether Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would be contesting in a by-election, state PKR chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohd Hashim said it was a possibility, though they had yet to discuss it.