Guan Eng: Don't listen to rumours

Guan Eng: Don't listen to rumours
By: by Regina William (Wed, 19 Mar 2008)


PENANG (March 19, 2008): Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today urged Penangites not to listen to rumours spreading via SMS about disturbances during the Maulidur Rasul celebrations tomorrow.

"The security and public order in Penang is under control and I hope Penangites are not influenced by these rumours that something will happen tomorrow.

"The police have given their assurance that nothing of that sort will happen and I am convinced that the security and peace in Penang will be maintained during the holy celebrations. Don't listen to baseless rumours and SMS.

"There are some parties who are trying to destabilise peace and harmony by resorting to such tactics," Lim said after chairing his maiden state executive council meeting.

Lim also urged Penangites to tighten their belts and help the state government minimise its expenditure, especially after the new state exco reviewed the state's financial status.

"We have a RM35.6 million deficit budget this year and we want Penangites to help us in our efforts to be thrifty. Our focus is to ease the burden and sufferings of the lower income group.

"We are working hard towards a better administrative and management system which will help us in our efforts to achieve a "clean" government.

"Penangites can help us in our endeavour so that the savings from these efforts can be channelled back to the state government," he added.

Penang CM directs SS to probe 'missing' govt files
PENANG (March 19, 2008): Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has directed state secretary Datuk Jamaludin Hasan to investigate the "disappearance" of files from the offices of the executive councillors.

While the previous executive councillors had removed all the files from their offices, saying these were their own personal files, Lim said it must be established if these were official.

The newly appointed state executive councillors who moved into the vacated offices found the offices bare, without any official documents.

Some of the former executive councillors when contacted had alleged that they had been directed by Jamaludin to remove the files.

"According to Jamaludin, after the general election results were announced, he had called the former excos to vacate their offices but he did not ask them to remove all the official government documents.

"Jamaludin will investigate if the files were their own personal files or these were government documents," Lim said after chairing his maiden state executive council meeting today.

Lim said the new exco line-up also endorsed several decisions which had been made earlier.

These included the open tender system which Lim said would be implemented for all projects.

"Contracts below RM50,000 will be given out via draws by rotation while those above that amount will be by open tender. There will be a two-week period given for objections and if there are any objections received, the tender will be re evaluated.

"These include if there is proof of mala fide or even instances of bankruptcy," Lim added.

Saying that this will be implemented immediately, Lim said the state financial officer has been directed to speed up the implementation.

He also announced the setting up of a special committee to look into land alienation discrepancies headed by both the deputy chief ministers, Mohd Fairus Khairuddin and Prof Dr P.Ramasamy, and state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh.

"There are also some cases which are pending in court. We have to investigate this matter seriously and upon completion of investigations, the three will make the necessary recommendations.

"They will also come up with further guidelines on this," Lim added.

The executive councillors also endorsed several other announcements which have been made by the state government including:

> 1,465 KAFA (kursus asas fardu ain) religious teachers will receive a one-off payment of RM600 each. The ex-gratia payment will cost the state government RM879,000;

> summonses issued for parking and hawkers before March 11 will be waived;

> the Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project has not received any approvals and no sale or promotion of the project should be carried out;

> efforts will be made to ensure a smooth transition of the Village Security and Development Committees in several areas where the activities have been halted.

--- end ---