Penang govt under fire for not supporting clan council

GEORGE TOWN: The state government has been criticised for not supporting the Penang Chinese Clan Council (PCCC) in its efforts to organise the annual Chinese New Year Culture and Heritage celebration.

Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan said it was irresponsible of the DAP-led government not to support PCCC simply because the council had claimed what was owed to it.

“Oppressing PCCC and the Chinese community goes to show the lack of professionalism of the state government.

“PCCC chairman Anthony Chang said that the decision to put the annual event on hold was because of the lack of cooperation and support from the Penang government.

“The admission by Chang clearly shows that the state has abandoned PCCC and its members after the clan association attempted to get back RM74,000 that the state owed them and claim the 50, Love Lane premises,” Huan said in a Facebook post yesterday.

He added that the celebration by PCCC should not be mixed with politics.

“The state government has gone overboard in its attempts to oppress PCCC.

“Although the Federal Government was rejected by Penangites in the previous general election, they (the Federal Government) continue to support PCCC, including offering to cover the expenses for the event.

“There was no vengeance or bad blood between the Federal Government and the Chinese clans in Penang,” Huan said.

Earlier, Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi said money was not the issue that led to the celebration being cancelled.

“Over the years, whenever they (PCCC) made requests, we res- ponded positively, but they should not take it as a given that it will always be that way.

“This time, we hesitated because we are waiting for clarification. We did not say that we would not give our support.

“He (Chang) has made a lot of accusations against the state government.

“We do not want to associate ourselves with such a person unless he clarifies matters,” Ooi told reporters at a press conference in Komtar.

Ooi added that Chang had ridiculed the state government and its institution.

The admission by Chang clearly shows that the state has abandoned PCCC ... after it attempted to get back RM74,000 that the state owed them. Datuk Huan Cheng Guan