Apologise over death report, daily told

CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng has urged a local English daily to retract and apologise over a front page report that a man died during the flash floods in the state on Sunday.

He said there was no such incident and expressed his disappointment over the standard of reporting.

“There is no more standards, no more morality,” he said at a press conference yesterday at the Penang Legislature building.

Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy and state environment and welfare and caring society committee chairman Phee Boon Poh were also present at the press conference.

In reading the report from the Penang Fire and Rescue Services Department, Phee said the deceased was identified as S. Ravichandran, 42, who fell from a boat into Sungai Perai.

He said the incident happened at about 10pm on Saturday and the victim was seen trying to save himself before being dragged under by the current. “No one reported that the victim died in the flood, and there was no rain then,” he said.

Ramasamy also urged the daily to retract the report.

The state was hit by flash floods in several areas following hours of heavy rain just after midnight on Sunday.

On another issue, Lim said he was giving Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Teng Chang Yeow another 48 hours to show proof that he rejected a “profit guarantee” deal over the Pulau Jerejak issue.

“If he is serious, he should show proof now,” he said.

Pulau Jerejak is under the spotlight after the Penang Development Corporation sold its stake in Tropical Island Resort Sdn Bhd to Ideal Property Group.