Yesterday, Sin Chew Daily exposed in an exclusive report about a Penang Island Municipal Councillor who was declared a bankrupt.

As a result, Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon was beseiged by the media at the opening ceremony of the Penang State Legislative Assembly.

He commented that the said Councillor had been stripped of his post after he was declared a bankrupt.

But Tsu Koon did not dare to name the person, why?

This is of public interests and it is the public responsibility of the CM to clear the air on the matter. Most reporters were disappointed that they were unable to get an official confirmation from Tsu Koon. All newspapers (but one) were unable to name the person involved and readers were left in the dark.

theSun, the nation’s free newspaper however reported on its front page that Council President Datuk Abu Bakar Hassan had confirmed that the person Tsu Koon was trying to protect is Umno Bukit Bendera chairman Datuk Ahmad Ismail.

Does the name ring a bell? Ahmad Ismail is the figure linked to the controversial PORR project in Penang. He is the director of Peninsular Metroworks Sdn. Bhd., the concessionaire for the project.

I have written about the PORR and Ahmad Ismail the past few years. Please check the news archive.

Ahmad is an influential Umno divisional leader and Tsu Koon is beholden to him for support. The CM’s constituency of Tanjong Bungah happens to be in the Bukit Bendera division.

No wonder Tsu Koon appears so powerless in Penang when a mere Umno division leader could wield so much influence over him.