Right Lim! Can you tell that to CM Chow?

 No News Is Bad News

Abang-Adik embrace?

For image info, go to https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/05/03/guan-eng-nine-lawmakers-deny-speaking-to-news-portal-about-alleged-push-to-oust-penang-cm/67504 

Right Lim! Can you tell that to CM Chow?

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11, 2023: It sure is beginning to look like DAP is just like the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) corrupt government.

As a component of the Pakatan Harapan and Anwar Ibrahim’s Unity Government, even DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng and his party do not practice what they preach.

In Parliament today, Lim said open tender must be part of Fiscal Responsibility Bill, adding that making bidding for public contracts (and sales and purchases) transparent would prevent massive scandals suich as 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and Jana Wibana.

Hey Mr Lim! Can you also tell that to your Penang DAP Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is facing an alleged state land sale scandal.

Did Chow do right by selling state (PDC) land without open tender? Why no probe?

Or are you, like the former corrupt BN government, practising selective persecution and prosecution?

No News Is Bad News reproduces below a Parliament news report and our previous postings on the issue:

Open tender must be part of Fiscal Responsibility Bill, says Guan Eng

Former finance minister says making bidding for public contracts transparent will prevent massive scandals such as 1MDB and Jana Wibawa.

Elill Easwaran - 11 Oct 2023, 4:29pm

Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng said the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Bill would prevent the country from going bankrupt. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Open tender requirements should be part and parcel of the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Bill to minimise the risk of major financial scandals, Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-Pakatan Harapan) said in the Dewan Rakyat.

“I fully support this bill because it will prevent major scandals like 1MDB and Jana Wibawa, but if open tender is not included then it will impact attempts to achieve fiscal responsibility,” the former finance minister said.

He added that passing the bill will also prove that the “reformasi” agenda lives on.

“The bill was first drawn up in 2018 when PH took over after the general election but the next government did not continue with it.

“Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, which made the then government spend RM500 billion. Following which, the prime minister said the country was out of money.

“This is why it is important to have this bill, because it will prevent the government from going bankrupt,” he said.

Earlier, deputy finance minister Ahmad Maslan, when tabling the bill for second reading, said the first target is an annual development expenditure of at least 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), adding that the annual average since 2015 has been 4%.

“The second target is a fiscal balance of 3% of GDP or less in the next three to five years. This refers to the (fiscal) deficit.”

He said the average fiscal balance for the past nine years had been 4.42% of GDP. The current fiscal deficit stands at 5% of GDP, and the lowest recorded was 2.9% in 2017.

The third target is a debt level as a percentage of the GDP – 60% or less in the next three to five years. The figure currently stands at 56.3%.

Lastly, he said government guarantees or contingent liabilities must be 25% of GDP or less. The average for the past eight years has been 17.8%.

Ahmad said that if the target figures needed to be adjusted, then the bill provides that the finance ministry must table a motion and obtain the Dewan Rakyat’s approval.

During the tabling of the revised 2023 budget on Feb 24, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government would be presenting the bill this year to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the management of the nation’s finances.

UPDATE1:

Did Chow not say all was above board, fine and dandy? So, why now the need to discuss at PDC directors’ meeting?

 

PDC land sale to be discussed at directors’ meeting, says Chow

The deal’s critics have claimed that the land was sold below the market rate.

Dineskumar Ragu - 11 Oct 2023, 5:58pm

Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow was elusive when asked if the state agency’s board of directors meeting would review or suspend the land deal. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN: The controversial land deal between Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and a private construction company will be discussed at the state agency’s board of directors meeting next week, says Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Speaking to reporters here, Chow said PDC had already briefed the state executive committee about the sale of the 226ha land in April.

“The state executive committee has taken note of the explanation given by PDC, and the matter will be raised (to PDC’s board of directors next week) for a decision (to be made),” he said at a press conference at Bangunan UOB here.

Former deputy chief minister P Ramasamy had called for the deal to be suspended after claiming that it did not follow procedures.

When asked by FMT whether the PDC meeting would review or suspend the deal, Chow said: “(It) is for PDC to present the (land deal) issue for the board’s attention.”

He repeated the answer when asked again if the PDC would review or suspend the deal during the meeting.

It was reported that the land was sold through direct negotiations to Umech Construction Sdn Bhd in April to develop an industrial park.

Chow had previously defended the sale, citing a lack of interest in the land. A PDC sub-committee has approved its sale.

However, Ramasamy, who was part of the sub-committee, questioned how Umech Construction sold the land to Umech Land Sdn Bhd, in which property developer Sunway Group holds a 70% stake.

Ramasamy said there was also the question of the land being sold lower than market rate, as claimed by the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber claimed that while the land was valued at RM80 per sq ft, it was sold at RM26.53 per sq ft.

Ramasamy, a former Perai assemblyman, said he found it incredulous that Chow was not aware of Sunway’s majority stake in Umech Land.

“We expect Chow to be transparent, not giving a blind defence. The more you defend, the more indefensible it becomes. He has to bite the bullet on this, call a special meeting and suspend the deal,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Tuesday, 10 October 2023

Ha! Ha! Ha! Penang DAP transparent?

 No News Is Bad News

 

Ha! Ha! Ha! Penang DAP transparent?

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11, 2023: The DAP leadership isd sounding and behaving like the previous corrupt Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said he was confident “transparent” Chow (Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow) would answer questions on the alleged scandalous sale of state land.

He also said if the Penang Assembly decided to investigate the matter, the DAP chief minister would give his full cooperration.

Now, doesn’t that sound all too familiar?

What rubbish is Loke talking about? As if Chow has a choice not to cooperate if any official probe was launched.

Also, why wait? Launch the probe now, and if the allegations were found to be false, then take former deputy chief minister P. Ramasamy to court for defamation.

Or is the DAP, like the BN, too afraid to probe its own men holding high public office? Is there anything to hide?

Transparent? Ha! Ha! Ha!

No News Is Bad News produces below the same same old rubbish news when alleged scandals unfold:

Loke confident ‘transparent’ Chow will answer questions on land deal

The DAP secretary-general says that if the state assembly decides to investigate the matter, the chief minister will give his full cooperation.

Shahrul Shahabudin - 11 Oct 2023, 12:52pm

Loke Siew Fook (right) is positive Chow Kon Yeow will answer ‘all the questions’ over the sale of PDC land to a construction company.

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook is confident that Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow is a transparent leader who would be upfront about the land deal between Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and a private construction company.

“He will answer all the questions, not just with the media but the state assembly,” Loke told reporters after attending the KTMB workers’ union conference here today.

It was previously reported that the 226ha land owned by PDC, a state agency, was sold through direct negotiation to UMECH Construction Sdn Bhd in April to develop an industrial park.

Chow has since defended the sale, citing lack of interest on the land, with a PDC sub-committee allowing its sale, although the claim has since been disputed by his former deputy, P Ramasamy.

Loke also said the Penang assembly had its own “mechanisms”, including a public accounts committee, which could carry out its own investigation into the matter.

 

“And I’m confident Chow would give his full cooperation,” he said.

The transport minister also said it was irrelevant whether or not he agreed with the sale of the land.

“It’s a question we have to impress upon the public and especially the people of Penang.” he said.

On Monday, Chow’s former special investment adviser, Lee Kah Choon, and former deputy chief minister P Ramasamy accused him of misleading the public over the sale of the land.

Chow had claimed earlier that PDC’s decision to sell the land to UMECH Construction had been made with “due diligence”. The chief minister is the PDC chairman.

He also claimed that a “small committee”, which comprised Ramasamy, Lee, former deputy chief minister Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman and former state executive councillor Abdul Halim Hussain, had met on Nov 28, 2022, to discuss Umech’s proposal.

In a joint statement, Lee and Ramasamy claimed that the meeting, chaired by Chow, was not intended to evaluate whether Umech was suitable to be awarded the contract, but for the company to provide further details about its proposed development.

They said it was decided at the meeting that Umech was to carry out a market survey, study the composition of land usage, and provide proof of its financial sustainability.

Monday, 9 October 2023

Penang DAP in alleged state land sale scandal

 No News Is Bad News

Penang DAP in alleged state land sale scandal

UPDATE1:

Suspend PDC land deal, ex-DCM Ramasamy says

P Ramasamy says there are many unanswered questions to the deal between the state government agency and a construction company.

Predeep Nambiar - 10 Oct 2023, 12:23pm

P Ramasamy said the sale of land owned by a state agency went against procedure.

BUTTERWORTH: Former deputy chief minister P Ramasamy has called for the suspension of a land deal between Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and a private construction company, as there were several unanswered questions.

Ramasamy also claimed that the deal for the 226ha land owned by a state agency went against procedure.

It was reported that the land was sold through direct negotiation to UMECH Construction Sdn Bhd in April to develop an industrial park.

Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow defended the sale, citing lack of interest on the land, with a PDC sub-committee allowing its sale.

But Ramasamy, who was part of the sub-committee, questioned how UMECH Construction sold the land to UMECH Land Sdn Bhd, with Sunway Berhad eventually taking a majority stake in UMECH Land.

Ramasamy said there was also a question of the land being sold lower than market rate, as claimed by the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

“Based on these grounds, I think that in the interest of the public, the land sale should be suspended,” he told reporters in Perai today.

Ramasamy said he found it incredulous that Chow was not aware of Sunway’s majority stake in UMECH Land, which was acquired by the listed developer two days before a deal was struck last month.

“We expect Chow to be transparent, not giving a blind defence. The more you defend, the more indefensible it becomes. He has to bite the bullet on this, call a special meeting and suspend the deal,” he said.

He also questioned the price of RM26.53 per sq ft offered to UMECH Construction, claiming that the market value for the land was at RM80 per sq ft.

Ramasamy also rubbished Chow’s statement that the land was located next to a landfill and was, therefore, unattractive to investors.

“It apparently never crossed the minds of those in PDC that there is a flip side to investors locating their companies near landfills to obtain carbon credits,” he said.

He also said PDC should suspend the officers who approved the sale.

Describing the corporation as a “lethargic elephant in dire need of change”, he said he had proposed for it to be revamped, but nothing materialised.

FMT is reaching out to Sunway for comment.

UPDATE2: 

MALAYSIA

I didn’t resign due to pressure from anyone: Lee Kah Choon

Special investment adviser to Penang CM says his resignation is unrelated to Umech controversy

Updated 55 minutes ago · Published on 10 Oct 2023 1:39PM

Quelling speculation that he was forced out, Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon stressed that he was moving on to pursue private interests rather than remain as the special investment adviser to the chief minister and a board member of InvestPenang – a state-linked entity. – InvestPenang pic, October 10, 2023

BY Ian McIntyre

GEORGE TOWN – The man dubbed as an “almost chief minister” here did not resign from all his positions in the DAP-led state government due to pressure from anyone.

Quelling speculation here that he was forced out, Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon stressed that he was moving on to pursue private interests rather than remain as the special investment adviser to the chief minister and a board member of InvestPenang – a state-linked entity.

After some 15 years of public service in persuading foreign and domestic investors, Lee confirmed he is calling it quits, saying it has been on his mind for a while.

“I am not the one who will succumb to pressure. For me, it’s just no more politics. Just want to set the record straight,” Lee told The Vibes.

Lee said he felt compelled to point out that his resignation and the controversy and complication over the Umech Construction Sdn Bhd deal with the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), was unrelated.

“I just wish to set the record straight.”

Under Lee’s watch, Penang had recorded the highest levels of foreign direct investments (FDI) in the past five years, although analysts contended that the inflow of FDI here was also due to the economic standoff between the two biggest global economies – the US and China.

Lee was also a former director of Penang Development Corporation (PDC).

He is now serving a one-month notice before his departure.

Before his role as the state investment czar, Lee was with Gerakan, who had nominated him along with three others: Teng Chang Yeow, Datuk Chia Kwang Chye and Datuk Seri Dr Teng Hock Nan as candidates for the chief minister post in the 2008 general election.

Then chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon was slated to contest a parliamentary seat.

Lee was also among those who had forewarned Gerakan that the voters in Penang were apparently unhappy with the party’s performance in governing the state.

He was a giant killer in politics when as a novice, he defeated iconic DAP chairman Karpal Singh in the Jelutong parliamentary seat in the 1999 general election.

Chow issued a statement yesterday that Lee had resigned from his two posts on October 2.

He received the letter of resignation with a one-month notice.

According to him, Lee has expressed his readiness to relinquish any or all positions and that even before the last general election, the former Gerakan vice-president had expressed his intention to quit to pursue private interests.

“On behalf of the Penang government, I wish to record our greatest appreciation to Lee for his significant contribution to the development of Penang,” Chow said.

Lee’s resignation was trending within Penang’s corporate circle, as Chow chose to release a statement just hours after Lee and former deputy chief minister II P. Ramasamy issued a joint presser to distance themselves from the Umech deal.

On the award of the Byram Industrial Park project to Umech, Chow said PDC had conducted due diligence continuously based on decisions made during a meeting held by a special committee on November 28, last year.

PDC had conducted official investigations into the company’s registration, company profile, experience and Umech was required to bring forward credit facilities support documents from financial institutions as proof of the company’s financial background.

“The board of directors had held meetings to discuss and obtain the latest information on the project on August 19 (2022), October 28 (2022), December 8 (2022), February 9 (2023) and April 11 (2023).”

Lee and Ramasamy had alleged that Chow’s statement on the November 28 meeting was misleading, unfair and caused harm to their professional reputations. – The Vibes, October 10, 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9, 2023: An alleged major scandal over the sale of state land appears to be exploding in the face of DAP’s Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Chow’s special adviser Lee Kah Choon has resigned.

Lee is also a former Gerakan state executive councillor and deputy minister in the then Barisan Nasional (BN) federal Cabinet.

Earlier today, Lee and former deputy chief minister P. Ramasamy accused Chow of misleading the public over the sale of a parcel of state-owned land in Batu Kawan to a private company.

With Lee and Ramasamy’s accusation against Chow, it will not be surprising that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Opposition (comprising the Taliban-like PAS, the Muhyiddin “I Am Malay First” Yassin-led Bersatu and Gerakan) is set to capitalise on what is brewing for political fodder.

It will also not be surprising that the police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will be forced to probe the allegations after reports are expected to be lodged by PN.

DAP is into its fourth-term as the Penang government and the first DAP Penang Chief Minister was Lim Guan Eng (who served the maximum of two terms) and Chow succeeded Lim.

So, it's "What's Up Doc" for DAP!

Time for Penangites to sit back and watch the “scandal unfold more shit” and how DAP will treat the matter affecting one of its top leaders holding high public office.

Will the DAP treat the matter openly, with accountability and responsibility as it had always demanded of the BN Government when it was in the Opposition?

Stock up your popcorn and polish your leather sofa to watch the “political drama unfold daily”.

No News Is Bad News reproduces below two Free Malaysia Today damning news reports on the “brewing scandal”:

Chow’s special adviser, former deputy claim CM misled public over land sale

Lee Kah Choon and P Ramasamy say chief minister Chow Kon Yeow’s statement about Umech deal was ‘unfair and caused harm to their professional reputation’.

FMT Reporters - 09 Oct 2023, 3:42pm

Chow Kon Yeow claimed that the decision by the Penang Development Corporation to sell the land to Umech Construction was made with ‘due diligence’.

PETALING JAYA: Chow Kon Yeow’s special adviser Lee Kah Choon and former deputy, P Ramasamy, have accused the Penang chief minister of misleading the public over the sale of a parcel of state-owned land in Batu Kawan to a private company.

In a joint statement, Ramasamy and Lee said Chow’s previous statement about the land deal was “unfair and caused harm to their professional reputation”.

On Oct 3, Chow alleged that the decision by the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) to sell the land to UMECH Construction Sdn Bhd (Umech) had been made with “due diligence”.

PDC is a statutory body set up by the Penang government and is chaired by Chow.

Chow had also claimed that a “small committee”, which comprised Ramasamy, Lee and former Penang deputy chief minister Abdul Halim Hussain, met on Nov 28, 2022, to discuss Umech’s proposal.

Chow went on to say that the said “committee” had raised the proposed collaboration with Umech for PDC to approve on Feb 9.

Ramasamy and Lee claimed that the meeting, which was chaired by Chow, was not intended to evaluate whether Umech was suitable to be awarded the contract.

“In fact, it was a meeting for Umech to provide further details about their proposed development.”

They added that it was decided in the meeting that Umech was to carry out a market survey, study the composition of land usage and provide proof of its financial sustainability.

Ramasamy and Lee also claimed that during the meeting, PDC’s management was told to “re-table to the PDC board” for further deliberation after the necessary information had been obtained.

Chow had previously said that PDC initially wanted to enter into a joint venture to develop an industrial park but no company voiced interest in the project.

Umech then expressed interest in developing the land when the idea was floated by a Penang delegation at the 2020 Dubai Expo.

The company managed to convince PDC that it would be financially supported by a funder from Dubai.

Chow also said getting investors for the project was a challenge as the land was next to the Pulau Burung landfill.

Lee Kah Choon has resigned as my adviser, says Chow

The Penang chief minister says Lee Kah Choon had voiced his intention to focus on his personal interests prior to GE15.

FMT Reporters - 09 Oct 2023, 4:59pm

Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said Lee Kah Choon (picture) is serving his one-month notice period after resigning as his special investment adviser.

PETALING JAYA: Lee Kah Choon has resigned as special investment adviser to Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow and is serving his one-month notice period.

In a statement, Chow said Lee submitted his letter of resignation on Oct 2 and he had also resigned as a board member of Invest Penang.

The chief minister said Lee had voiced his intention to focus on his personal interests prior to the last general election.

He said Lee also expressed his willingness to relinquish all positions he held after Chow was reappointed chief minister for a second term.

Aside from Invest Penang, Lee was also a board member of Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and Penang Hill Corporation.

“On Sept 26, I informed Lee that he had been replaced as a director of PDC following a new appointment to the board.

“On Sept 27, he replied that he understood the situation.

“On behalf of the Penang state government, I wish to record our greatest appreciation to Lee for his significant contribution to the development of the state of Penang,” Chow said.

Earlier today, Lee and former deputy chief minister P Ramasamy accused Chow of misleading the public over the sale of a parcel of state-owned land in Batu Kawan to a private company.

On Oct 3, Chow alleged that PDC’s decision to sell the land to UMECH Construction Sdn Bhd (Umech) had been made with “due diligence”. PDC is a statutory body set up by the Penang government and is chaired by Chow.

Chow had also claimed that a “small committee”, which comprised Ramasamy, Lee and former Penang deputy chief minister Abdul Halim Hussain, met on Nov 28, 2022 to discuss Umech’s proposal.

In a joint statement, Lee and Ramasamy claimed that the meeting, which was chaired by Chow, was not intended to evaluate whether Umech was suitable to be awarded the contract but for the company to provide further details about their proposed development.

They added that it was decided at the meeting that Umech was to carry out a market survey, study the composition of land usage and provide proof of its financial sustainability.