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Penang accused of embezzling rakyat’s money |
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Tuesday, 22 July 2008 07:04pm |
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Sparks fly over 'RM30m embezzlement'
©The
Star (Used by permission)
by Christina Chin and Ng Su Ann at the Penang State Assembly
GEORGE TOWN: Penang opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim caused an uproar in
the House when he accused the Pakatan Rakyat state government of “embezzling”
RM30mil.
“The state says that it is trying to save money by flying economy class and
implementing austerity measures but it is actually embezzling the people’s money
by not collecting the illegal hawking and parking compounds issued before March
8,” said the Penaga assemblyman who twice described himself as a “good guy” in
his debate on the motion of thanks on the Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman
Abbas’s speech.
State exco member Phee Boon Poh (DAP-Sungai Puyu) stood up to demand
clarification from Azhar on how the state had embezzled the people’s money.
“The state’s duty is to collect the compounds but it did not, so that is
menyelewenglah! Why are you taking care of those who are guilty? What about
those who have paid, do they get a refund?” Azhar, who is state Umno secretary,
retorted.
Phee then asked for a dictionary to clarify the meaning of the word, before
urging the former for a retraction.
“We never received one sen of that money,” he said, to which Azhar replied,
“Then where did the money go?”
Speaker Abdul Halim Hussain interjected, saying that the act did not constitute
embezzlement.
Azhar claimed that he never accused the state of corruption (makan duit) and was
referring to dereliction of duties.
Several Barisan Nasional and PR assemblymen joined the fray including Shabudin
Yahya (BN-Permatang Berangan), Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya (BN-Teluk Bahang), A.
Tanasekharan (DAP-Bagan Dalam) and Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP-Datuk Keramat).
Jagdeep Singh, who called for Azhar to retract the statement under Order 46 (13)
(c) and (d) of the State Legislative Assembly’s Standing Order, challenged Azhar
to deny that he had made the accusation.
Datuk Jasmin Mohamed (BN-Sungai Dua) interjected, claiming that subsection (c)
was not proper, as the words uttered did not cause hurt.
“Anyone’s feelings hurt?” he asked, prompting most PR assemblymen present to
raise their hands.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng urged Azhar to “be a gentleman” and admit that he
had accused the state of embezzling money.
Tired of the bickering, Abdul Halim raised Order 28 and said that he would
decide on whether Azhar should retract the statement.
“When I speak, you must all be quiet. Do no
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Circular No 304/2008
There seems to be more to this than just a cheap publicity stunt. It may well underscore the political bankruptcy of the Penang Umno leadership headed by my friend, Dr Hilmi Yahya.
What's the use of spending time politicking and doing violence to the word "embezzlement" when they should be directing their minds to formulate plans to alleviate the plight of the people brought about by the across-the-board increases in the prices of everything?
I am still left wondering how anyone can embezzle monies that he or she never receives!
Instead of going on a frolic of their own, the Penang Umno leaders will do better during their time in the Opposition benches to rebuild the National Front parties that they lead instead of engaging in such transparently puerile antics. This is crucial since none of the other National Front parties has any representation in the State Assembly after the March 8 election.
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng