Penang Umno Youth vs CM Koh; Keng Yaik Enters The Fray.
In his typical blunt manner of speaking, Datuk Seri Lim Keng Yaik came to the aid of his 'boy' in Penang. He did not mince words, called a spade a spade and told the Umno Youth plainly to stop blustering in public.
The report in Bernama follows.....
The Umno Youth should air their views and criticisms on Gerakan run Penang state government through the proper channel rather than airing them in the media. Gerakan President Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said the movement should raise their problems at the Umno Supreme Council so that Umno could bring up these grouses at the Barisan Nasional (BN) Supreme Council.
"I would advise them to take this route rather than hurling accusations and grouses in the media. We (the Penang state government) had never at any point marginalised the Malays in the state," he told reporters after chairing the party central committee meeting at Menara PGRM here Saturday. "I would also like to remind them (Umno Youth) that we (Gerakan) have gone through a lot in the state from the day BN was formed in 1974. We were the only party to rule Penang since BN was formed...if the Gerakan Youth started criticising any Menteri Besar, I would be the first one to ask them to stop the criticisms.
"Please do not pick on race based issues...if there are any genuine issues then they should bring it up to the Chief Minister (Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon who is also Gerakan deputy president)," said Dr Lim, who is also Energy, Water and Communications Minister.
Dr Lim said this in response to a tirade of criticisms at Umno Youth division meetings over the last month against the Gerakan led state government. The Youth movement had alleged that the state government and Dr Koh had marginalised Malays in the state, by not developing the livelihood of the Bumiputeras in Penang.
"If the Malays feel marginalised in the state, then they should come and talk to us...we have not marginalised anyone. They have to give us ideas and input on how to develop the Malays in the state, we are doing all we can," he said. The Gerakan chief said Dr Koh was not just Chief Minister for the Chinese community or Gerakan members but for the whole state and for all races living in Penang.
At the same press conference, Dr Koh, who is also Gerakan's Deputy President in his rebuttal to the accusations said the state enjoyed a very low poverty level and that relative poverty, which is was slightly higher, was being looked into by the state government.
"We need help from the federal government or government agencies like MARA and UDA. As the CM, I would be monitoring the progress of development in the state and it is better if these agencies or government owned companies come in to help develop the state," he said.
On a statement by Umno Youth vice head Khairy Jamaluddin on Friday that Malays should have at least 30 per cent equity in the state by 2020, Dr Koh said this was possible if the Malays bought shares and properties offered to them.
"We can set the targets but we have also found that these targets are not met because the Malays don't have the purchasing power to buy property and such. If the lots or properties reserved for Bumiputeras are not sold, then the developers run into losses...this is why we want government agencies or government linked companies to buy these shares," he said.
Dr Lim suggested that Umno Youth, instead of criticising blindly, work on the formation of the Bumiputera Commerce and Industry Community (BCIC), as a vehicle to directly or indirectly help raise Malay equity in Penang. "Help build this BCIC rather than blame others for your shortfalls. We are willing to help. We can set targets but it is up to them (Umno Youth) to come up with concrete programmes. We are not anti one race and we do not marginalise any particular race in Penang...I take offence to this statement. Talk smartly, not blindly," he said.
**** Well done Dr Lim Keng Yaik. You are one of the few persons in the government who dares to voice out your real thoughts on contentious issues and the people appreciate your frank, matter of fact style. It is hoped that Umno Youth and their 'bosses' Hishamuddin and Khairy take heed of Dr Lim's advice and not stoke the fire.
The report in Bernama follows.....
The Umno Youth should air their views and criticisms on Gerakan run Penang state government through the proper channel rather than airing them in the media. Gerakan President Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said the movement should raise their problems at the Umno Supreme Council so that Umno could bring up these grouses at the Barisan Nasional (BN) Supreme Council.
"I would advise them to take this route rather than hurling accusations and grouses in the media. We (the Penang state government) had never at any point marginalised the Malays in the state," he told reporters after chairing the party central committee meeting at Menara PGRM here Saturday. "I would also like to remind them (Umno Youth) that we (Gerakan) have gone through a lot in the state from the day BN was formed in 1974. We were the only party to rule Penang since BN was formed...if the Gerakan Youth started criticising any Menteri Besar, I would be the first one to ask them to stop the criticisms.
"Please do not pick on race based issues...if there are any genuine issues then they should bring it up to the Chief Minister (Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon who is also Gerakan deputy president)," said Dr Lim, who is also Energy, Water and Communications Minister.
Dr Lim said this in response to a tirade of criticisms at Umno Youth division meetings over the last month against the Gerakan led state government. The Youth movement had alleged that the state government and Dr Koh had marginalised Malays in the state, by not developing the livelihood of the Bumiputeras in Penang.
"If the Malays feel marginalised in the state, then they should come and talk to us...we have not marginalised anyone. They have to give us ideas and input on how to develop the Malays in the state, we are doing all we can," he said. The Gerakan chief said Dr Koh was not just Chief Minister for the Chinese community or Gerakan members but for the whole state and for all races living in Penang.
At the same press conference, Dr Koh, who is also Gerakan's Deputy President in his rebuttal to the accusations said the state enjoyed a very low poverty level and that relative poverty, which is was slightly higher, was being looked into by the state government.
"We need help from the federal government or government agencies like MARA and UDA. As the CM, I would be monitoring the progress of development in the state and it is better if these agencies or government owned companies come in to help develop the state," he said.
On a statement by Umno Youth vice head Khairy Jamaluddin on Friday that Malays should have at least 30 per cent equity in the state by 2020, Dr Koh said this was possible if the Malays bought shares and properties offered to them.
"We can set the targets but we have also found that these targets are not met because the Malays don't have the purchasing power to buy property and such. If the lots or properties reserved for Bumiputeras are not sold, then the developers run into losses...this is why we want government agencies or government linked companies to buy these shares," he said.
Dr Lim suggested that Umno Youth, instead of criticising blindly, work on the formation of the Bumiputera Commerce and Industry Community (BCIC), as a vehicle to directly or indirectly help raise Malay equity in Penang. "Help build this BCIC rather than blame others for your shortfalls. We are willing to help. We can set targets but it is up to them (Umno Youth) to come up with concrete programmes. We are not anti one race and we do not marginalise any particular race in Penang...I take offence to this statement. Talk smartly, not blindly," he said.
**** Well done Dr Lim Keng Yaik. You are one of the few persons in the government who dares to voice out your real thoughts on contentious issues and the people appreciate your frank, matter of fact style. It is hoped that Umno Youth and their 'bosses' Hishamuddin and Khairy take heed of Dr Lim's advice and not stoke the fire.
posted by The Malaysian. at 8/19/2006 08:15:00 PM
1 Comments:
Yeah I really admire this guy. Never to mince his words when the truth need be told.
But there is hope for a bumiputera CM still if some of them join Gerakan. It promotes multi racialism and if the malay guy can stand out why not.
I am not a gerakan member though.
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