Did Chow Kon Yeow screw up the local council appointments?

Did Chow Kon Yeow screw up the local council appointments?

I was reading a post (Powerful corporate interests penetrate Penang local councils) over at Anilnetto's blog on the appointment of the councillors for the local councils here and it reminded me of this whole ugly issue.

Initially, I was very reluctant to blog about it coz it seemed like a can of inedible worms that I do not feel like dealing with...however, the way the exco in charge, Chow Kon Yeow, reportedly reacted to all the negativity and criticisms made me change my mind.

He had reportedly said that all this criticisms about the choice of councillors are undermining the state government's efforts. It seemed that all these criticisms (mainly in the Chinese dailies) meant that (according to Kon Yeow) they (the Chinese dailies) are putting undue pressure on the newstate government and are not providing the 'support' the state government needs at this early stage.

Furthermore, he compared the current system to the BN system and wondered why nobody complained about the BN's system which does not open up for NGOs at all.

Err...YB Chow Kon Yeow...are you high on drugs or were you just daft or plain stupid?

Weren't you the one to promise 10 councillors post to the NGOs but now there are only 7? And by NGOs, shouldn't you be thinking about a variety of NGOs and not just the business ones? Also, why the secrecy in the selection process?

So, is it so wrong for the public to demand for explanations when you did not fulfill your promises? Is it wrong for the public to demand for 'transparency and accountability', the very things the Pakatan Rakyat has always been harping on?

The people voted for Pakatan Rakyat for a reason and that is to see good and major changes. Not some half-hearted attempt!

Sure, you may say it is only for this term and that you had to rush through the selection process. These are just lame excuses that nobody could swallow.

Just think, your first chance to shine and you blew it, you think the people are just going to let this go?

Just admit that you screwed up this time and you won't do it again and perhaps, the people will be a tad more forgiving. They may even let this go. But no, you had to go on and on about how there are now 7 from NGOs as compared to none previously.

You see, Penangites aren't all that demanding and unforgiving. We aren't all that stupid too. We know how BN run things, you don't have to point that out repeatedly. What we want now is to know how you, the Pakatan Rakyat government, plan to run things.

A promise is a promise. Regardless of whether it is short of 3 or even 1 from the originally promised number of 10, it is still a promise. And didn't DAP always say that it will keep its promises made to the rakyat?

It has only been a month plus since you took over the helm and Pakatan Rakyat is still very green. Why don't you just come clean about how you selected the councillors and letthe public be the judge of whether you did this in the interest of the people and council or in the interest of the party?

For isn't transparency and accountability the two main words you, the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat, have been preaching? Where is it now whencriticisms and demands for explanations appear?

So, YB Chow Kon Yeow, I hope you have credible answers instead of the lame excuses you gave. It is the only way for you to redeem the respect you lost in this whole debacle.

Penang DAP chief hits out at MP

By CHRISTINA CHIN

sgchris@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang DAP-PKR tiff is catching fire with Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow describing Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim as being politically frustrated.

He said there was no doubt that the PKR Bayan Baru MP was unhappy over his removal as state party chairman and was now attempting to break up the Pakatan Rakyat coalition here.

Chow said he had been informed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng that Zahrain was frustrated as he (Lim) had refused to endorse the MP’s decision to award tender for the privatised management of the Bukit Jambul Golf Club to a RM2 company.

“Zahrain may want to personally burn his bridges with us but he shouldn’t allow his political frustrations to break up Pakatan Rakyat in Penang,” he told a press conference at the party’s headquarters here yesterday.

On Zahrain calling Lim a communist-minded dictator and chauvinist, he said it was a baseless, racially-motivated lie “Even Umno and Barisan Nasional never labelled Lim a communist when he was detained under the ISA in 1987,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman, who is the state PKR chairman, earlier said the party’s central committee would meet today to discuss Zahrain’s outburst.

He said the party would announce the outcome of the meeting – whether action will be taken against Zahrain or otherwise – on Tuesday.

MR CHOW WHAT ABOUT ALL THESE ISSUES ? IS IT NOT TRUE ?

Mr Chow are you saying , what Zahrain is not true ? all the facts brought up by him not true ? Common lah my kong seow wah ! Can you tell me these issues listed below true or not true !

What about the fast tracking the construction of the much-opposed $ 50 million Penang International Convention Centre (PICC) in Relau, Is this not true ?

Lim's hypocrisy of 'advocating' press freedom on one hand, while banning certain media groups and reporters from his functions. Barring of NST and Utusan from covering his press conference ? Is this not true ?

Kampung Buah Pala and Kampung Melayu Tanjung Tokong incidents. Not only failures , bullshitted the people there with their empty promises and tried to shift the blame to the previous BN govt ? Is this not true ?

Lim was against holding local council elections in Penang for fear of losing control over municipalities, despite being a central figure in DAP's 'third vote' campaign. Is this not true ?

Penangites were also growing restless with Lim's statements blaming the previous BN administration for everything. Is this not true ?

Lim's government had failed to attract any notable foreign investments despite spending millions in public funds in frequent foreign trade missions. Is this not true ?

It's because Lim cannot take criticism when criticised with his planned tiger park project ? Is this not true ?

Lim government's CAT principles based on competency, accountability and transparency. What happened to the Kampong Buah Pala issue when the state allowed the transfer of ownership during his watch ? Is this not true ?

What about the dragon boat rowers tragedy ? That the state changed the venue to the open sea without consulting the various maritime agencies of its suitability resulting in the deaths of six students rowers? Is this not true ?

That the state has allowed illegal restaurants and huts to be built right up to the shore line of the sea in Batu Ferringhi without taking any actions to prevent and demolish those illegal restaurants and dwellings ? That Batu Ferringhi has today become a cowboy town where certain people are allowed to collect illegal parking fees without any action being taken ? Is this not true ?

That Tanjong Bungah folks have complained to the state on the development of high rise buildings on hill slopes and as of until today , nothing has been done , falling on deaf ears ? Is the state waiting for another tragedy to happen ? and start blaming that the approval was given by the previous govt ? Is this not true ?