Jeff Ooi lambasted over sedition threat

Sedition Act Jeff ?? when it suits you ?

The Penang Electromagnetic Field Protection Coalition has lambasted DAP MP Jeff Ooi for allegedly threatening to use sedition laws on them for questioning the government.

The DAP parliamentarian has said they are spreading "unfounded rumours and unsubstantiated data".

The coalition's advisor Dr Thor Teong Gee (left), has labelled the Jelutong MP as 'recalcitrant' for allegedly warning the group not to question the state's effort to promote a wireless Penang.

Thor, who runs a private clinic in Balik Pulau, said he was prepared to be arrested for raising concerns that would affect the lives and health of Penangites.

The group has suggested that the state consider the safety limits used by Austria, Germany and Italy when erecting telecommunication structures.

"Everyone listens when we explain the potential dangers of erecting telco towers which are beyond the safety limits, the only one who does not listen is Jeff Ooi," said Thor,at a press conference in Jalan Paya Terubong today.

"“He is stupid and recalcitrant; why threaten us with the Sedition Act? As a people's representative, he should be protecting the people and not the telco companies," he added.

Ooi has repeatedly defended the state's effort to make Penang the first wireless state.

He said that the government has adhered to safety limits approved by WHO and the Ministry of Health, which has also been sanctioned by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

Ooi, who is also a well-known blogger, recently questioned the legality and credibility of the coalition and said he will use all federal laws available in the country to deal with the group.

He challenged their data, saying that Thor, who is a doctor and Gerakan leader, should forward their concerns to the government through their Federal Minister Koh Tsu Koon so that the matter could be raised in the Cabinet.

Ooi also asked if the federal government was willing to adopt the coalition's proposed safety limits, and if the latter agreed to do so, the authorities should instruct MCMC and the Health Ministry to issue a guideline to avoid confusion.

However, if Putrajaya refused to do so, it should take action against those spreading wrong facts under the Sedition Act or Penal Code, as the rumours can cause public unrest.

'Abusing freedom of speech'

When contacted, Ooi (below, right) continued to warn the group that he will initiate legal action against those who consistently called him names.

He said if they continued to label him "stupid and recalcitrant", he will use their statements as points of reference to sue them for defamation.

He also planned to raise the issue of the coalition's credibility and legitimacy as a group in Parliament on June 16.

"I will not allow anyone or any group to victimise the state government or the cellular phone operators who spent millions of ringgit in this project," he added.

Meanwhile, Suaram Penang Coordinator Ong Jing Cheng criticised Ooi for threatening to use the Sedition Act on the coalition just for expressing their views.

"Questioning the safety limits used by government to enable a wireless Penang is not seditious; in a democracy, this must be allowed to happen," said Ong.

"We (Suaram) have always protested the use of the act as it is often used by the government to abuse freedom of speech," he added.

Penang PKR demands apology from Jeff Ooi

By DERRICK VINESH

derrickvinesh@thestar.com.my

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Penang PKR wants Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun to make a public apology for labelling a few PKR leaders as “garbage remnants that often create problems in the party.”

Penang PKR deputy election director (management division) Johari Kassim said Ooi’s remark was disrespectful, especially to party adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

“His statement is over the limit and it does not show respect to the PKR, as a fellow component party of Pakatan Rakyat.

“This is not a new thing because many of Ooi’s statements (in the past) criticised PKR’s leadership and members, which I feel had intentionally caused a murkier situation in Pakatan,” he told a press conference at his office in Bandar Perda here Thursday.

On Feb 2, a Malay daily quoted Ooi as saying that Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng’s open criticisms levelled at Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng provided a golden opportunity for PKR to “cleanse garbage” from the party.

The daily further quoted Ooi as saying that PKR was famous for collecting “garbage” to become its members.

Johari said he would recommend PKR’s state and central leadership send a memorandum to the DAP demanding an open apology from Ooi.

“Even though there are differing views about the present state leadership, they are the views of individuals from the party,” he added.

Johari stressed that PKR could decide for itself the type of disciplinary action that it should take against its difficult members, noting that there was no need for other parties to get involved.

Ooi, when contacted later, said he was abroad and had no comments to make on the matter.

Ex-municipal councillor sues Jeff Ooi for defamation

PENANG, Feb 1 — Former Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) member Mohd Razali Abdullah today filed a RM10 million defamation suit against Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun over allegations against him, including branding him an Islamic extremist.

Razali, a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) member, filed the suit through his lawyer, Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor, at the High Court here.

In his statement of claim, Razali said Ooi (picture), who is also chief of staff in the Chief Minister’s Office, had made the baseless defamatory statements and insinuations repeatedly which were carried by the local newspapers, and Internet websites and portals.

Razali said a notice was filed on Aug 12, 2009 through Messrs VM Mohan, Fareed & Co asking Ooi to apologise for his remarks within seven days but he refused or failed to do so.

Meanwhile, Ooi said he accepted whatever action Razali decided to take against him and that the matter would be handled by his lawyer.

He also revealed that Razali was not reappointed a MPPP councillor as he was also a Kuala Krai District Council member at the time.

Ooi said the matter was confirmed by PKR state liaison chairman and Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman.

In regard to this, Ooi also said former Penang PKR chief Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim should apologise as he had proposed Razali for the MPPP councillor post although he knew the real situation. — Bernama

Jeff Ooi calls for stern action against PKR leaders

Who is lying ? Jeff Ooi says Tan was not happy that the recommendation by his party for him to become the chairman of the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP)

Tan Tee Beng says :“For positions in Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBA), Penang Development Corporation (PDA) and investPenang, PKR has to beg,” Tan said, adding that he was nominated by PKR to become a PBA director but was sidelined by Lim for constantly speaking out against him.

Chairman of PBAPP or PBAPP Director ? Which is which ? Which is the correct version ?

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's chief of staff Jeff Ooi wants PKR to take stern action against its members who, he claimed, were attempting to break up the Pakatan Rakyat coalition in the state.

Ooi, who is the member of parliament for Jelutong, said he hoped that PKR would take some affirmative action to resolve the issue relating to its members making personal attacks on Lim.

"I hope they (PKR) can make a decisive judgment on this issue so that the entire Penang state can move on under the Pakatan coalition," he told reporters in Penang today.

He was responding to a report today that the Penang DAP-PKR tiff had worsened after another PKR MP Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal), threw his support behind fellow party leader Zahrain Mohd Hashim (Bayan Baru MP) by labelling Lim as a leader without class.

Ooi said Tan and Zahrain shared the same problem of political frustration for having made their negative statements through the media. But Jeff , can you please answer to all the issues brought by by Tan and Zahrain ? Why are you people ie LGE and you deflecting all the issues brought up by them to one of political frustration . On Tan is the director/chairman of PBAPP and on Zahrain is the management of the state-owned Bukit Jambul Golf and Country !

"This is a classic case of political frustration. When they do not get whatever they desire, they start making noise," he said.

He explained that Tan was not happy that the recommendation by his party for him to become the chairman of the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) and his intervention in the tender process of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) to get his relative a shophouse lot were not fulfilled. Tan had earlier mentioned that Lim had so far not even dared to answer any of Zahrain's damning allegations but instead chose to hide behind Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman's ‘samping’ or underneath his "sarong " ?

"We cannot accept all the recommendations and endorsements which have been made. We must consider putting the people first," he said.

However, he said, the Pakatan coalition would make contingency plans for the Bayan Baru and Nibong Tebal constituencies to maintain the people's support for the party.

Earlier, deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy welcomed the decision of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to refer Zahrain to the party disciplinary committee.

"There is a proper forum to raise the issue, especially during the Pakatan meeting, and making it public is not the idea of Pakatan," he said.

Last week, Zahrain said Lim was a dictator and a chauvinist and communist-minded while yesterday Tan expressed his support for Zahrain.

Tan went a step further by hitting out at his party leaders in the state government for failing to assert their position in the state Pakatan Rakyat.

He even warned that PKR would end up with nothing if the leaders were weak and continued to bend to Lim's will.