Chow Kon Yeow: 曹观友

Penang Council may demolish illegal entrance

PENANG: The glass box-like side entrance to the Tanjung Umno division building on Bishop Street will be demolished if the building owner fails to meet the requirements.

Penang Municipal Council president Datuk Abu Bakar Hassan said yesterday a notice had been issued to the owner to demolish the illegal extension or get council approval. The owner had since submitted plans which were being vetted.“If the owner complies with the technical requirements for building extensions, we will approve them. If not, building must be redone or torn down,” said Abu Bakar at the Kayuh Lasak Penang Mountain Bike Jamboree 2006 here.

Meanwhile, a state executive councillor expressed surprise over how his name had been dragged into the issue which was highlighted by the DAP.

Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said he had not given any written answer to a question on the matter by Opposition Leader Phee Boon Poh at the state assembly.

Azhar was quoted in the newspapers as saying in his written reply that the side entrance was built without approval.

He said the matter was clearly under the purview of Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, who is in charge of local government.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Aziz Shamsudin said today Dr Mahathir’s spat with the Abdullah’s government was due to a third party trying to control the government.

Aziz served for a long time as Dr Mahathir’s political secretary before he was appointed a Senator and later a Minister.

He said that although Dr Mahathir had criiticised Abdullah, the former premier was not against the government.

Aziz added that Dr Mahathir did it with good intention.

I noticed earlier that another Dr Mahathir’s man, the Minister of Information Zainuddin Maidin was making “strange” remarks. He had said that Dr Mahathir could have been misled by a third party.

Interestingly, both Aziz and Zainuddin did not say who the third party was.

With these two Ministers putting up their neck to speak for their former boss, it is clearly too early to say that Umno is totally united behind Abdullah.

Well, Dr Mahathir was boss to most of the present crop of Umno Ministers. Not all of them have made harsh statements against Dr Mahathir.

Will they also come out to speak for Dr Mahathir?

The Backbenchers Club organized a meeting to allow Umno MPs and Senators to show its undivided support for Abdullah’s leadership, following a scathing attack by Dr Mahathir on his successor.

It is sometime difficult to comprehend where Umno MPs actually stand on issues affecting the country.

The present batch of Umno MPs has so far proven to be erratic and inconsistent in their expressed stands.

So many of them expressed support for the scenic bridge and called on the government to simply ignore Singapore’s demand and just build the bridge.

But when Abdullah scrapped the project, they made an abrupt turn and obediently toed the lines.

Umno MPs were very vocal in objecting Abdullah’s initiative on the IPCMC. Clearly at that time, certain Umno MPs were questioning Abdullah’s wisdom in endorsing the IPCMC.

Umno MPs were very quiet when the police made treacherous remarks and threats in their website against the government for proposing the IPCMC. Although the police was undermining the moral and legitimate authority of the Prime Minister, Umno MPs did not see fit to give their undivided support to Abdullah.

And now, Umno MPs are throwing their support to Abdullah in the face of Dr Mahathir’s criticisms. For them, it is the man that matters, not the issue.

But the scenario might have changed if Dr Mahathir were to attack Abdullah for the latter’s endorsement of the IPCMC. If he did, Umno MPs would be put in a quandary.

Would they then support Abdullah, the man or Dr Mahathir on the IPCMC, the issue?

Press Statement by DAP Penang chairman and MP for Tanjong Chow Kon Yeow on Saturday, 27 May 2006.
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Preposterous for Penang CM to treat Ahmad Ismail’s councillorship as being not affected

The local media reported today that the Insolvency Department has cleared embattled Penang Island Municipal Councillor Datuk Ahmad Ismail as not a bankrupt following a court order on Wednesday.

Penang CM Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon was very quick in breaking the news to the Press yesterday.

He said, “I will recommend to the State Executive Council at its next meeting to treat his councillorship as (being) not affected.”

It is preposterous for Tsu Koon to think that Ahmad Ismail’s councillorship was not affected.

The fact is the State Executive Council has decided to revoke Ahmad Ismail’s appointment as Councillor and the revocation letter was sent out by the President of the Council to Ahmad Ismail.

Ahmad said on Thursday that he was on leave but Council President rebutted that there was a vacancy to be filled and the Council is waiting for the Executive Council to fill the vacancy.

Now, Tsu Koon in haste to appease the angry Ahmad Ismail, uttered the preposterous statement that the councillorship was being not affected.

Leaving asides legal issues over Ahmad Ismail’s bankrupt status, it would be legally wrong to deem nothing has changed with regard to the Councillor post.

If Tsu Koon strongly feel that Ahmad Ismail should remain a Councillor, then it is only proper for the State Executive Council to reappoint the latter according to the provisions of the Local Government Act.

Tsu Koon’s image as the CM has been seriously dented in the way he handled this issue.

Press Conference statement by DAP Penang chairman and MP for Tanjong Chow Kon Yeow at the Penang State Assembly building on Wednesday, 24.5.2006.

Dr Koh Tsu Koon must not evade responsibility over Umno bankrupt Councillor issue
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Yesterday, I said Penang CM Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon was trying to protect an Umno bankrupt Councillor as he has refused to reveal the councillor’s name when asked by the Press.

In an immediate response, Tsu Koon’s political secretary Mark Ooi told the Press that there was no cover-up in the matter by the CM.

Mark Ooi said, “This is a local government issue. The statement should come from the Council.”

I have expected the CM to clear the air on the matter but instead he directed his secretary to respond. I found the response way off the mark.

I went to the Penang State Assembly this morning and spoke to waiting reporters.

I asked: “Why is it so difficult to name Datuk Ahmad Ismail as the bankrupt Councillor.”

Mark Ooi was very wrong when he implied that the State Government has nothing to do with the issue.

The Local Government Act, 1976 empowers State Authority on the appointment of Councillors.

Clause 10(1) stipulates that the Mayor or President and Councillors are to be appointed by the State Authority.

Clause 10(2) gives the State Authority power to determine who shall be appointed as Councillors. Three years ago, the State Executive Council headed by Tsu Koon rejected a MCA nominee because the candidate was said to have dubious dealings.

Clause 10(7) says that the decision of the CM shall be final and binding on the local authority in matter referred to him by the President of the local council.

Clearly, the CM has all the power to deal with the matter. He has refused to publicly name the bankrupt Councillor and continue to protect him, why?

Mark Ooi also slammed the DAP for trying to capitalize on this issue.

This issue is about good governance, accountability and political integrity. Ahmad is behind the concessionaire of the Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) project.

We have objected to Ahmad’s credibility and financial’s ability to implement this project.

This is a case of Umno’s crony capitalism of the highest degree. The NST said Umno leadership will leave it to PM Abdullah to decide on Ahmad’s fate. Pak Lah should also decide whether Ahmad’s company should be awarded the PORR project.

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.

On 24 February 2006, Prime Minister Pak Lah was in Penang to witness the signing ceremony for the sale of the 21-storey Menara UMNO building in Macalister Road.

Menara UMNO, built in 1998 for RM 38 million was sold to JKP Sdn Bhd for RM18 million. By the way, JKP is a GLC owned by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated.

The news report revealed several important facts unknown outside the UMNO circle.

First, the Menara UMNOs’ land owner is the State Islamic Religions Council and the land was leased to Amanah Capital Properties Sdn Bhd which put up the majestic-looking building.

The question is why the Menara UMNO was allowed to build on wakaf or baitumal land managed by the council.

Another question is if the building is owned by Amanah Capital, then why name it Menara UMNO?

A search with the Companies Commission of show that Amanah Capital has debts of RM 40 million at the end of the year 2003.

Did Pak Lah, as Minister of Finance direct JKP Sdn.Bhd to bail out Menara UMNO Penang. By the way Pak Lah is also Penang UMNO Chief.

We have a “cute” situation here: Pak Lah, the Finance Ministers’ JKP Sdn Bhd bailing out Pak Lah’s Menara UMNO Pulau Pinang.

Pak Lah’s integrity is at stake and he must explain.