Bebas Lim Guan Eng

The arrest of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is totally shocking as well as heartbreaking to those who have been supporting his administration for the past 8 years. This political persecution is a big blow to the opposition leaders but is even far more damaging to the overall morale of opposition supporters. The rude manner in which the Chief Minister was treated during arrest is not justified, even with the accusations brought against him.

Firstly, he was not armed, did not resist arrest and had been cooperative with the MACC all along. Secondly, the Chief Minister should not be treated like a criminal before a guilty conviction has been passed.

He faces two counts under Section 23 of the MACC Act and Section 165 of the Penal Code.

Nonetheless, the MACC seem to be at the call and beckon of the UMNO chief. While RM2.6 billion transactions may be brushed off as a donation, the accusations against the Chief Minister pale in comparison to what seems to be an obvious play to ‘save’ the Prime Minister from all allegations especially the 1MDB scandal.

Unfortunately, BN-UMNO has all the unfair advantages and government machineries to carry out their wishes and bidding.

This senseless detention of the Chief Minister will not dampen the spirits of Penangites but rather, unite us all despite earlier differences and disagreements. This move to cripple the opposition pact is a rather desperate move on the part of BN-UMNO, especially during Ramadhan and just a few days short of Hari Raya.

I am truly disappointed at how BN-UMNO flex their muscles and unparalleled powers at the opposition pact. Voices of dissent are silenced and forced into submission, while corruption in the country remains rife and racism glorified. Political persecutions are not new to the country. First, BN-UMNO put the former opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim behind bars despite acknowledgement from the UN that the imprisonment was 'arbitrary'. The international community is well aware of Anwar's political imprisonment. Now, Lim Guan Eng is being detained. While government institutions systematically clamp down on its federal opposition leaders, the Prime Minister and his new cabinet rejoice at the pain they inflict on those who do not agree with him.

This is a sure sign of a failed democracy and a failed government with failed leadership. True strength is when a government is fair and decent. At present, BN-UMNO is despicable and very obscene. This is not how a multi-racial country should celebrate the upcoming Raya holidays.

Penangites stand in solidarity with YAB CM Lim Guan Eng.



#BebasLGE #BebasAnwar

Written by: Carolyn Khor

June 2016

Pardon me, can you please apologise again?

Link to MSN Malaysia News

Jahara must be deaf to request a second apology from Lim Guan Eng.

BAZUKI MUHAMMAD\Newscom\RTR

Far from being satisfied with Penang Chief Minister’s prompt apology for calling Jahara Hamid a grandmother, she is now threatening legal action within a week if Lim Guan Eng did not apologise for a second time. The Telok Ayer Tawar State Assemblyman and Penang Opposition Leader must indeed be hard of hearing to demand a second apology.

Jahara had earlier drawn comparison between two different locations in Penang to support her argument that illegal Malay hawkers were being unfairly treated by the State Government. This would have resulted in instigating racial tension if the matter was not refuted immediately, to which the Chief Minister called Jahara a ‘racist grandmother’.

Telok Ayer Tawar Pakatan Rakyat coordinator, Norhayati Jaafar confirmed that the Malay stalls operating without licenses in Jahara’s constituency especially at Pantai Bersih are still operating their business without interference from the enforcement officers, contrary to what Jahara claimed.

“As far as I know, the Malay hawkers are still conducting their businesses in Telok Ayer Tawar and there are no intentions to do otherwise,” she said.

While Jahara may be crying wolf and entangled in her own web of deception, Penang enforcement officers are mostly caught in between carrying out their duties and appeasing a large number of illegal operators who unabashedly occupy idle land to carry out their businesses.

Tale of a Malay trader at Pantai Jerejak

Juninah and six other Malay hawkers operate without licences by the seaside near Bayan Mutiara in Bayan Baru. The site is now earmarked for land reclamation and the business owners have received notices to clear the area to make way for further development. These business owners have also requested the State Government to relocate them elsewhere.

Maybe the Penang State Government should help look into the problems faced by Malay traders. Tricky problems as such must be dealt with care and caution so as not to be accused as being discriminating against the Malays or being seen as setting precedence by negotiating with illegal traders.

Santai Bahtera, a pretty beachfront café located next to the Penang Island Pulau Jerejak Jetty has an amazing view of the Penang Bridge. To date, the café has permanent structures such as a surau, toilet and water facilities, electricity and even a stage.

“We are just earning a living but the State Government is chasing us away with development,” lamented Juninah.

Juninah had sought help from various authorities but all her cries for help are not being taken seriously.

“We admit we are illegally conducting our business here but we do hope that the State Government will help us by relocating us to another site,” she added, claiming that she recently spent RM140,000 renovating the place.

Apology not good enough

Word is out that Hj. Rashid Hasnon, Deputy Chief Minister 1 for Penang, who is also the State Assemblyman for Pantai Jerejak had given an explanation to Juninah for being unable to help her maintain her business site as the area will soon be condoned off to make way for bicycle tracks and land reclamation. However, efforts are still underway to help Juninah and the others achieve an amicable solution.

Apologies and explanations are always never good enough.

Good governance is all about making the right call at the right time. The State Government has the authority to allow or disallow, make legal or stand firm on matters concerning illegal occupation of idle land.

The only setback is that if any precedence was made, many other instances of illegal traders seeking the same compensation and treatment may be expected in the future or else the State Government may risk being accused as being unfair.

Pardon me, can you please say that again?

Apart from Jahara’s threat to sue the Chief Minister of Penang if Lim Guan Eng did not apologize for a second time within a week, the issue of being called a ‘racist grandmother’ remains firmly wedged as a racial issue – one that is distinguishably ambiguous as enforcement officers are expected to carry out their duties only towards non-Muslims.

Jahara claims that only stalls of a certain race were demolished. Perhaps Jahara can provide a fair solution for all illegal traders and without prejudice too. In any case, if she is only looking after the interest of Malay and Bumiputera traders, then she would have just affirmed and stamped the ‘racist’ label on herself.

As a grandmother of seven grandchildren, there is no reason why she should not be called a grandmother if she was proud to be one at all.

** This is the writer’s personal opinion.

How sexist remarks attract remarkable attention

Link to MSN Malaysia

A grandmother by any other name is still a grandmother.

Reuters Picture Stream

The commotion over the ‘racist grandmother’ remark hurled by the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng during the Penang State Assembly towards the State Opposition Leader, Jahara Hamid drew ire from many people even though an apology was issued soon after.

Gender accusation is highly inappropriate considering many people would have misconstrued Lim’s remark although his timely apology was commendable.

The Chief Minister fell for the oldest trick in the book – succumbing to provocation and unfair accusation from the opposition. On hindsight, if Lim had not been so quick with his tongue and instead retorted in a calm manner, Jahara would have just remained as that, a grandmother.

In all hilarity, the term ‘grandmother’ has never been a derogatory one until now. The word conjures an affectionate portrayal of a woman with wisdom. As such, it would be an oxymoron if ever the phrase ‘Grandma Jahara’ was coined.

Jahara had accused the Penang State Government with practicing double standard in enforcements with illegal stall operators by comparing two totally different locations to support her argument. She would have intentionally caused the issue of enforcement to be a racial one even though there was none.

Calling a spade a spade

A rose by any other name is still a rose. Whether a woman is a grandmother or a spinster, name calling gains attention. This is mainly because people do not like being called names. Even more so, when a woman is reminded of her gender - as if it is something negative - age and marital status aside, she would get upset.

The point in hand here is that language plays an important role in gender equality. The understanding of words relates all the way back to how we were brought up and how society reacts in certain circumstances.

Somehow, a man would not accuse another man of being a racist grandfather or a racist bachelor.

In a world where women have to work doubly hard to achieve what men take for granted, it comes as no surprise that women feel unsettled with phrases in relations to gender connotations.

After all that is being said and done, it may also be constructive if women were able to take a different approach towards gender classifications. So what if we were being called a grandmother? So what if we were being called a spinster?

It takes a lot to get to where these women are today and all that has nothing to do with being either a grandmother or a spinster. If the women truly reveled in being a woman, being branded as one should be taken in a positive manner rather than a negative one.

Triumphantly, it may be that men feel intimidated by the presence of women. Therefore, the overwhelming need to verbalise it in a way to put the women ‘back where they belong’ sometimes come about in the most unexpected manner.

For example, Ridhuan Tee would never comprehend why a woman might choose to be single rather than a couple. He is a blind follower without essential critical thoughts and should be aptly dismissed as a nuisance not worthy of our time.

After all, a sneer should not be mistaken as a sexist remark.

What is a sexist remark?

A sexist remark is when someone refers to another with an offensive word or phrase that belittles or insults the person’s gender. The offensive words may range from vulgar words to descriptive words that refer to a woman’s genitals.  Who could forget the Minister who implied that women ‘leaked’ every month?

In any case, being labelled as a grandmother or spinster is candidly mild and women should not take any further offence. Be proud of being one instead of feeling insulted. That itself will cancel out any contemptuous effort, if any, that was meant as a pot shot to an easily bruised ego – something synonymous to being sensitive and emotional.

Last but not least, being a racist carries no sexist undertone. Jahara remains as one.

** This is the writer’s personal opinion.

Lim Guan Eng proposes, Anwar disposes

Exchanging oranges for limes, but still better than nothing.

Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng is expected to propose on behalf of Pakatan Rakyat, Law Choo Kiang as Speaker and Ustaz Maktar Hj. Shapee as Deputy Speaker for the Penang State Assembly tomorrow (28/6/2013). Both are second term PKR state assemblyman for Bukit Tambun and Sungai Bakap respectively. Deputy Chief Minister 1 for Penang, Rashid Hasnon will second the motion.

Lim had also, in his press release, made known that prior to the final decision, Penang PKR chairman, Dato Mansor Othman was unanimously proposed and supported by the Penang EXCO, consisting of both DAP and PKR members, for the Speaker post. He attributes the change to a consultation with Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PKR’s de facto leader and Parliamentary Opposition Leader.

The initial move to propose Dato Mansor may be politically correct, or reversely, simply an olive branch from DAP to iron out the outburst of the ‘Tokong’ issue which emerged since last August. A recording purportedly of Dato Mansor accusing Lim as being a deity, and in no circumstances a friendly term, put him under unfavourable conditions in the months that followed, leading to his ‘upgrade’ to contest during the 13^th General Elections as a Member of Parliament instead of a state assemblyman.

Law proposed to appease Chinese PKR members

While the nomination for Law to be the Speaker may appease some Chinese members in PKR, many still fume over the loss of the Chinese EXCO seat, which was previously held by Law. To add salt to the wound, only four Chinese candidates were fielded in the state seats this time round as compared to five in 2008. All four won their seats with a larger majority than before; they are: Law Choo Kiang (Bukit Tambun), Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah), Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubuk) and Cheah Kah Peng (Kebun Bunga).

Even though Dato Mansor was largely supported to be the Speaker, the nomination of Law instead, points to the rationale that the PKR leadership appreciates the contributions of its Chinese members and proportioned all three EXCO seats in Penang to PKR Malays only because there was a lack of Malay leaders in DAP.

Although a similar situation arose in Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Menteri Besar of Selangor, reduced the number of EXCO seats to DAP from four to three, to accommodate a PKR Chinese appointment. DAP was compensated with a Speaker seat originally meant for PAS.

Nomination not based on gender quota

The nomination of Ustaz Maktar as Deputy Speaker displaces Dr. Norlela Ariffin, the state assemblyman for Penanti, initially announced by Dato Mansor to be the Deputy Speaker. An enthusiastic newcomer to politics, she was a beacon of hope for women. While women continue to struggle for more representation, the post of the Deputy Speaker went in favour of a senior politician with more experience.

It remains to be seen the length of time taken for PKR to attain her commitment in achieving 30% women’s representation in politics.

Lim Guan Eng proposes, Anwar disposes link to MSN

Lim asks Koh to clarify extraodinary investments (Mandarin)

Lim held a press conference to proof that Koh indicated an extraodinary
amount of new investments coming to Penang. Lim showed the reporters
news reports from several sources, including a video clip to back up
his claims.

Kenyataan Akhbar oleh Lim Guan Eng mengenai biasiswa JPA

Kenyataan Akhbar oleh Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, YAB Lim Guan Eng pada 25 Mei 2011 di Komtar, George Town.

Masyarakat tidak tertarik untuk mengetahui siapa wira tetapi yang nyata wira sebenar ialah seseorang yang dapat memastikan semua pelajar cemerlang menerima biasiswa JPA.


UMNO dan MCA bercakaran bagi membuktikan siapa yang benar dalam isu pemberian biasiswa JPA yang dilihat seolah-olah tidak mempunyai jalan penyelasaian kerana masih terdapat pelajar cemerlang yang masih tidak menerima biasiswa. Masyarakt kini tidak tertarik untuk mengetahui siapa jadi wira tetapi yang nyata wira sebenar ialah mereka yang dapat memastikan kesemua pelajar cemerlang ini boleh menerima biasiswa JPA.

Masyarakat bertambah keliru apabila kedua- dua UMNO dan MCA memberikan jawapan yang berlainan walaupun bernaung di bawah Menteri dalam Kabinet yang sama. Kekeliruan ini akan menjadi lucu jika difikirkan tetapi fakta sebenar ialah pelajar-pelajar cemerlang yang tidak bersalah akan menjadi mangsa atas pertelingkahan di antara UMNO dan MCA.

Sekiranya MCA benar, mengapa tiada tindakan diambil ke atas pegawai kerajaan yang gagal memberikan biasiswa kepada pelajar cemerlang dan memperbaiki kesilapan dan memberikan biasiswa kepada pelajar yang layak dengan segera? Namun jika UMNO benar, MCA kemudiannya harus meminta maaf kepada pelajar dan mendesak UMNO untuk mengubah polisi bagi memastikan biasiswa JPA diberikan kepada semua pelajar cemerlang tanpa mengira agama atau pun bangsa.

Permasalah tentang pelajar- pelajar cemerlang yang tidak menerima biasiswa JPA tetapi sebaliknya memberikan kepada pelajar yang mendapat keputusan lebih kurang cemerlang langsung menjadi ejekan kepada BN yang seolah- olah menegaskan sistem pendidikan Negara adalah berdasarkan merit dan prestasi. Kegagalan untuk memberikan penghargaan kepada pelajar cemerlang hanya akan mendorong perpindahan pelajar (brain drain) dan menyebabkan kekurangan tarikan dan mengekalkan bakat sedia ada.

Pelajar- pelajar Malaysia yang telah berusaha keras untuk mencapai impian mereka kini berdepan dengan kemungkinan impian yang mereka bina hancur disebabkan oleh sistem birokrasi yang tidak cekap dan tidak menghargai. Bagaimana ibu bapa harus menjelaskan kepada anak- anak mereka bahawa selain melakukan yang terbaik dan menjadi yang terbaik, mereka juga akan dinafikan hak dan peluang disebabkan oleh kegagalan kerena birokrasi yang harus mereka tanggung kini?


Bagaimana Kerajaan Persekutuan harus lakukan kepada para pelajar untuk sesuatu yang mereka layak dan harus terima? Untuk melakukannya adalah sama seperti menghukum untuk sesuatu kesalahan yang bukan milik mereka. DAP berharap BN dapat memberhentikan permainan politik antara UMNO dan MCA tetapi sebaliknya memastikan bahawa semua pelajar cemerlang tidak menjadi mangsa keadaan seperti mana pepatah Melayu “Gajah dengan gajah bertembung, pelanduk mati di tengah-tengah.”


LIM GUAN ENG

Kenyataan Akhbar oleh Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, YAB Lim Guan Eng pada 20.3.2011 di Komtar, Georgetown.

Pemimpin BN Harus Memberhentikan Penyalahgunaan Media Massa Bernama dan News Straits Time untuk Terus Menghentam Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang Dengan Fitnah Bahawa PR Tidak Adil Dalam Pelaksanaan Wifi Percuma di Seluruh Pulau Pinang Kerana Ketepikan Kawasan Parlimen Barisan Nasional (BN).

Pemimpin BN harus memberhentikan penyalahgunaan media massa Bernama dan News Straits Time untuk terus menghentam Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang dengan fitnah bahawa PR tidak adil dalam pelaksanaan Wifi percuma di seluruh Pulau Pinang kerana ketepikan kawasan parlimen Barisan Nasional (BN). Kerajaan Negeri PR Pulau Pinang tidak merasa terkejut dengan serangan berterusan akhbar seperti New Straits Times yang tidak pernah bercakap benar kerana mendakwa Kerajaan Negeri PR Pulau Pinang melakukan sesuatu pekara yang tidak pernah dilakukan sebaliknya cuba membetulkannya.

Tetapi, bagi agensi media massa kebangsaan seperti Bernama yang tidak melaporkan penjelasan Kerajaan Negeri PR Pulau Pinang bahawa inisiatif wifi secara percuma adalah untuk semua termasuklah kawasan Parlimen BN menunjukkan bahawa Pilihan Raya Umum sudah semakin hampir dan Bernama seharusnya dikenali sebagai BNnama.

Kerajaan Negeri PR Pulau Pinang adalah adil kepada semua rakyatnya tanpa mengira bangsa, agama, gender dan juga fahaman politiknya. Kerajaan PR Pulau Pinang adalah sebuah kerajaan untuk semua rakyat Pulau Pinang termasuk penyokong BN. Oleh itu semasa Kerajaan Negeri PR Pulau Pinang melancarkan inisiatif wifi secara percuma pada tahun 2009, kami mahukan liputan merangkumi keseluruhan Pulau Pinang termasuklah kawasan Parlimen BN iaitu Kepala Batas dan Tasek Gelugor. Inisiatif wifi secara percuma ini adalah usaha Kerajaan Negeri PR Pulau Pinang untuk mempertingkatkan penggunaan jalur lebar dan ”Kepintaran Digital” untuk kawasan bandar dan juga luar bandar sebagai langkah memajukan Pulau Pinang ke arah sebuah negeri ekonomi berpengetahuan.

Kerajaan Negeri PR Pulau Pinang telah berjaya mendapatkan khidmat syarikat swasta Redtone, untuk membekalkan khidmat wifi secara percuma tanpa bayaran walau sesen pun. Redtone telah berjanji untuk membekalkan 750 kawasan hotspot wifi secara percuma dengan hanya bergantung kepada pulangan pengiklanan bagi mendapatkan balik nilai pelaburan dan pengeluaran modal mereka. Kerajaan Negeri hanya membantu memudahkan Redtone dengan mengecualikan beberapa peraturan dalam pemasangan alat wifi ini.
750 kawasan hotspot wifi secara percuma ini telahpun dipasang sepenuhnya pada tahun ini di Pulau dan juga di Seberang Perai. Walau bagaimanapun Kerajaan Negeri amat menitik beratkan beberapa kawasan yang tidak diliputi dengan inisiatif wifi secara percuma ini seperti kawasan Parlimen Bukit Gelugor, Nibong Tebal, Kepala Batas dan Tasek Gelugor. Bukit Gelugor dan Nibong Tebal adalah kawasan Parlimen PR kedua-duanya.

Redtone menjelaskan bahawa keperluan komersial telah memaksa mereka memasang 750 kawasan hotspot wifi percuma hanya di kawasan yang boleh membawa keuntungan komersial (viability). Oleh kerana ini adalah tawaran pemasangan secara percuma oleh sebuah syarikat swasta, Kerajaan Negeri tidak dapat memaksa Redtone untuk meliputi seluruh kawasan di Pulau Pinang.

Untuk memperbaiki ketidakseimbangan ini dan memastikan liputan wifi merangkumi semua kawasan, Kerajaan Negeri telah berbincang dengan Redtone untuk mengadakan satu usaha sama denganya termasuk kawasan-kawansan yang tidak diberikan liputan wifi percuma sebelum ini. bagi pemasangan 750 kawasan hotspot lagi yang mana akan merangkumi semua kawasan di Pulau Pinang, termasuk kawasan-kawasan yang tertinggal yang disebut sebelum ini. Dalam kata lain, tambahan 750 kawasan hotspot wifi menjadikannya berjumlah 1,500 kawasan hotpsot wifi secara PERCUMA akan disediakan di Pulau Pinang apabila ianya siap sepenuhnya.

Niat baik Kerajaan Negeri untuk memastikan kesemua kawasan mendapat wifi secara percuma telah ditukar dan diputar belitkan dengan mengatakan bahawa Kerajaan PR telah mendiskriminasikan penyokong BN. Bagaimanakah Kerajaan PR dikatakan mendiskriminasikan penyokong BN sedangkan kawasan Parlimen Karpal Singh juga tidak diliputi oleh pemasangan wifi secara percuma pada peringkat pemasangan yang pertama? Adalah menjadi perkara lazim kepada media massa BN dan pemimpinnya yang mengamalkan ”double standard” dan suka membuat propaganda apabila Kerajaan PR dituduhkan mendiskriminasikan penyokong atau kawasan BN sedangkan niat Kerajaan PR adalah baik dan untuk memastikan semua kawasan mendapat wifi secara percuma.

LIM GUAN ENG
Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang

Press Statement by Penang Gerakan State Chairman Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan

Press Statement by Penang Gerakan State Chairman Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan pertaining to the incident of distribution of flyers bearing
a doctored photograph which is showing YAB Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang wearing a kopiah (skullcap)

Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan condemns the irresponsible, unethical and the despicable act of doctored photograph of YAB Lim Guan Eng,Chief Minister of Penang wearing a skullcap.

The people behind, he said is just to get political mileage through this means. Smearing each others name in politics should not be our culture. Dr Teng urges those people who are behind the act should stop it immediately.

He hopes all politicians and leaders of the country whether they are in the government or in the opposition should practice politics in the very honorable, ethical and professional manner, so as to show a good example to our future generation.

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 16.2.2011

Penang State Government Establishes A New State Executive Council(EXCO) Portfolio For Non-Islamic Religious Affairs To Handle Religious Matters Relating To Buddhists, Christians, Sikhism, Taoism & Hinduism.

The Penang state government has established a new State Executive Council portfolio for non-Islamic Affairs to handle religious matters relating to Buddhists, Christians, Sikhism, Taoism & Hinduism. This is the first time that a state executive council portfolio has been formed in Penang and the EXCO member in charge will be the Chief Minister.



The State EXCO for Non-Islamic Religious Affairs was presented by Deputy Chief Minister II Professor Dr P. Ramasamy to the weekly state EXCO meeting and approved last week. Professor Dr P. Ramasamy will be the deputy in this non-Islamic Affairs EXCO portfolio.



The establishment of the non-Islamic Religious Affairs portfolio marks the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week by the United Nations this week. Unlike the Federal Government’s Committee for the Promotion of Inter-religious Understanding and Harmony, this is not a committee but a full EXCO portfolio and reflects the state government’s genuine concerns on all religious matters.



Further as a George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage city, the formation of this EXCO portfolio is timely as it promotes diversity and positive human interaction on cultural, religious and social spheres. Despite our differences, we are united by our common aspirations for good practices and universal moral values of peace, justice, moderation and harmony. Co-operation not confrontation, mutual respect not tolerance, and understanding not ignorance will be the governing creed of this new Penang EXCO portfolio.



Penang is willing to work with the Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak’s who had expressed hopes at the United Nations’ 65th general assembly last year, during which he said he did not want any extremist or militant groups to threaten unity and security in Malaysia. The Penang state government is concerned at the existence of extremist groups who seeks to racialise every event for their own selfish interests. Penang has been under siege with attacks of being anti-Malay even if it only involves only 10% Malays or one Malay out of 10 affected parties.



The Penang state government calls on the people to embrace the future by embracing every Malay, Indian, Chinese, Kadazan and Iban, as Malaysian brothers and sisters, Malaysian sons and daughters.



Then only can we grow together, learn together and enjoy the success together.

LIM GUAN ENG

Press Statement by Teng Hock Nan

Penang Gerakan chief Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan today slammed Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for his outburst against non-governmental organizations (NGOs) over the plastic bag ruling, saying Lim’s remarks were “unbecoming, petty and unwarranted.”

Dr Teng said Lim’s comments also contained elements of threat against NGOs and his unwillingness to accept differing views.

“It also reflects his dictatorial style of administration. He approves the ruling of plastic bag ban and must accept responsibility. Don’t pass the buck to the NGOs, if things are not going his way,” said Dr Teng in a statement.

Dr Teng said an NGO’S role is to provide views and options on the subjects they were set up and not to go around helping the government to implement policies.

On the use of plastic bags, Dr Teng said he agreed that there should not be an over-use but any action to ban the usage completely, especially when it could cause inconveniences, loss of income and affect the state’s economy, must be properly studied.

“We must always consider the views and plight of all interested parties including hawkers, petty traders, the lower-income group and plastic manufacturers,” he added.

On Tuesday, Lim hit out at NGOs for deserting the state when its no free plastic bag ruling came under fire.

“I am disappointed that they have not come out in full support of the ruling which they were pushing for,” he said, also describing NGOs as pandai cakap (good at talking). The ruling will come into effect daily from Jan 1.

Penang Gerakan State Chairman
Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan