‘ACCEPT CRITICISM, INSTEAD OF SUING’
Guan Eng must not assume all his decisions are right, says state BN chairman
MOHAMED BASYIR GEORGE TOWN m.basyir@nst.com.my
THE DAP-led Penang government was told to practise openness and accept criticism from the people to improve its governance, rather than threaten to take legal action.
State Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Teng Chang Yeow said the state government, headed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, should not assume that all its decisions were right.
He said this included the decision by the state government to use a plot of land in Tanjung Pinang as payment for feasibility studies involving the three paired roads project, which cost RM208 million.
The land is considered “non-existent”, as reclamation of the land has yet to be completed.
“As a politician, he must accept criticism and should not be suing everyone who does that (criticises him). His act of scaring reporters for publishing news against him is not right.
“Newsmen are only doing their job, so he must not intimidate them with legal action. If he cannot take the criticism, then he should become an accountant again. No one would criticise an accountant,” Teng said yesterday.
Earlier this week, Lim sued four news outlets for publishing allegations by the Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow pointing to an embankment project under way in Gurney Drive, Penang, yesterday.
state BN on issues relating to the proposed undersea tunnel and the three paired roads project.
Teng had initiated legal action against Lim over the same matter.
The multibillion-ringgit undersea tunnel and the three paired roads project is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The undersea tunnel project raised controversies in recent months, especially the
cost of the RM305-million feasibility studies and the 21-month delay in completing it.
MACC has raided 42 locations, including government agencies and consultant companies in Penang and the Klang Valley.
The graft-busters have recorded statements from 76 witnesses.
Teng questioned the method of allowing a land-swap deal as payment for the feasibility studies of the multibillion-ringgit project.