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Koh to BN leaders: Don't play racial card
Regina William The Sun 28/08/2006
PENANG: Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has
called on Barisan Nasional component party leaders
in Penang to refrain from playing the racial card
when highlighting issues affecting their respective
communities.
Koh, who has in recent weeks been under attack by
state Umno leaders who claimed the Gerakan-led state
government has neglected the Malays in the state,
said no one should play on racial issues to justify
their claims.
Asked if the present attacks on him were to
undermine his leadership as the chief minister or
personal in nature, he said: "I don't want to
comment if these attacks are personal in nature. I
see these times as a hot season for the political
scenario in Penang, just like the hot weather we are
experiencing now.
"I am a CM for all races, and similarly, the state
executive councillors also represent every Penangite,
so we should all look at the issues raised in a more
positive way," he said.
"We do not question the fact that Umno leaders fight
for the rights of Malays, as the MIC leaders
highlight the plight of the Indians, but so do other
BN leaders.
"However, all the BN component leaders should use
the proper channels to highlight issues affecting
the respective communities instead of going to the
media.
"This (going to the media) paints a very negative
picture among the public that we (BN leaders) are
squabbling for positions."
Earlier, Koh had to remove his jacket when
officiating at the launching of the Draft Structural
Plan for Penang in City Hall.
He joked that the air-conditioning in the hall was
not cold enough because he was sitting under the
"limelight on a very hot seat".
Koh also commented on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi's statement two days ago that the state
government should ensure balanced development in
Penang.
Abdullah had said certain places like Balik Pulau,
which was a Malay majority area, were less developed
compared with George Town.
He also said the state government had a lot to do to
help raise the living standards of the Malays in the
state.
Asked if Abdullahwas not receiving the right
information about the development in Penang, Koh
said: "Maybe some people think what we do is not
enough. I take these comments very positively.
"I would like to pledge to the prime minister the
state government's commitment to ensure a balanced
and sustainable development in Penang in all the
five districts."
On the development in Balik Pulau, Koh said it was
the wish of the local leaders and people of Balik
Pulau to maintain the status quo.
"They do not want to turn Balik Pulau into George
Town and have expressed their wish to maintain the
greenery and traditional village charm of Balik
Pulau," he said.
"To say that Balik Pulau is neglected is not true as
we are just respecting the wishes of the people
there who are mostly farmers and (those venturing)
into eco-tourism activities."
Koh said the five districts had their own
characteristics and over the past 10 to 15 years,
the state government hadbeen carrying out
sustainable and balanced development in each
district.
Even though Bertam was being developed extensively,
the Seberang Perai Utara district's identity as the
"rice bowl" of Penang was being maintained.
He said that perhaps there was not enough
communication among the BN component parties in
Penang which had led to constant misunderstanding
among the parties and that the relations should be
mended.
I'll reply to Umno BM in next few days, says CM
PENANG: Saying he would not be restricted with time
limits set by any party, Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr
Koh Tsu Koon will reply to demands made by Bukit
Mertajam Umno that he step down as the chairman of
the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) in the
next few days.
At the Umno division's AGM yesterday (Aug 27, 2006),
its chairmanDatuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir had called on
Koh to give up the position previously held by Umno.
Musa challenged Koh to do so in three days if he was
sincere about helping the Malays in the state.
He claimed that the hierarchy of the corporation was
dominated by a single race and the chairman's
position, which was held by Umno in 1999, was only
supposed to have been temporarily filled by Koh.
Koh, who refused to be drawn into saying if he would
give up the seat or hold on to it, said today (Aug
28, 2006): "I will give my comment in the next two
to three days.
"There have been some statistics on the employment
within the organisation which have been given by the
division which I need to check and verify.
"I will comment when I have the necessary details."
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