By Susan Loone
Jun 13, 11 | MalaysiaKini
A local think-tank has questioned former chief minister Koh Tsu Koon if he was planning to sabotage the Greater Penang Transformation Programme by calling for the release of the state’s blueprint.
Socio-Economic and Environmental Research Institute (Seri) executive director Liew Chin Tong asked today whether Koh, who is a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, was not prepared for a joint federal-state plan to be produced.
In April last year, Seri was officially tasked by the state government to prepare a five-year blueprint for the period 2011 to 2015.
The committee is headed by former senator and pioneer general manager of the Penang Development Corporation, Chet Singh.
Liew said about 200 roundtable consultations were conducted between April and October last year, with a “draft final” version printed and circulated among policy makers and key state civil servants.
The discussions among policy makers and key state civil servants were held while the draft was sent to peers abroad for review.
Amendments were made and the blueprint was now ready to be made public for consultation and affirmation.
“We intend to have the widest possible acceptance within the government and by the community to smooth its final implementation,” Liew, who is also Bukit Bendera MP, told a press conference in Penang.
Yesterday, Koh challenged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to officially unveil his promised Penang blueprint for the sake of Penangites.
Until today, Koh said, Lim was unable to produce the master plan that he said was ready.
Lim responded to this by inviting members of the public to view the blueprint at his office in Komtar.
Liew also said that Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) chief executive officer Idris Jala had called on Lim on Feb 19 and they had agreed that a Greater Penang Transformation Programme lab should be held, upon the final consent of the prime minister.
On April 1, Premier Najib Razak and Lim issued a joint statement confirming the arrangement.
“It was also decided that the Penang Blueprint will be deferred, in deference of a joint federal-state plan,” Liew said.
“I have always suspected that there are two drivers in Pemandu. I am shocked that, of all people, Koh Tsu Koon was the one questioning why the blueprint was not disclosed to the public.”
#1 by sheriff singh on Monday, 13 June 2011 - 6:57 pm
Did Koh and Gelakan give any feedback?
#2 by life is not a fairy tale dude on Monday, 13 June 2011 - 7:21 pm
I don’t believe that at all. Wasn’t you guys and Gerakan the ones who caused 13th May riot?
#3 by undertaker888 on Monday, 13 June 2011 - 7:28 pm
néw durian species in penang. It has no seed. It is named boh-hood Koon. why don’t he reveal how he gave 40million away in that jerajak deal? stupid umno poodle. sit ah koon sit. Good dog.
#4 by sheriff singh on Monday, 13 June 2011 - 7:52 pm
It was a guy named Harun I think but the history books might say otherwise.
#5 by waterfrontcoolie on Monday, 13 June 2011 - 10:27 pm
Having sat as Penang’s CM for more than 1 term, KTK should ask himself what had he done for the State, instead trying to corner LGE. If he looks into the mirror each morning he should be able to get the answer he wanted. You don’t need to bother LGE with such silly question. Since you have failed the people miserably, you should gracefully step aside. Are you dreaming of a come back? Obviously you have turned deaf. Of you want to compare, then this fact is relevant. LGE has achieved what you could not achieve in spite of sitting on the opposite side of the Federal Gomen. Even if he had just equalled your achievement, it should be considered as double your effort. I don’t even think you should go back to teach as you may create too many KTKs and then we need to bring back the Emperor as he needed more enunchs to serve him. You should judt disappear!
#6 by yhsiew on Tuesday, 14 June 2011 - 1:01 am
Of course a jealous Koh can do anything to sabotage the Greater Penang Plan.
#7 by Not spoon fed on Tuesday, 14 June 2011 - 12:26 pm
Penang people: make sure Gerakan and MCA and MIC do not get any single seat in coming general election!
Work hard on present UMNO’s seats too. We must support PAS and Keadilan fully too.
Pakatan’s manifestation of first 100 days as new federal government is righteous: http://www.keadilandaily.com/program-100-hari-pakatan-rakyat/
It is enough for them to rule Penang without progress and distinction and they had caused our Malay and Indian friends in Penang poor and struggling.
Penang state is the state that pay highes income tax in Malaysia!
Penang is the only state in the history of Malaysia since 1957 praised by Transparency International in 2009: See page 272:
http://www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/2009/gcr2009) No other state or federal government in Malaysia history has received such a praise from TI.
Work hard in Sabah and Sarawak in rural areas too to show how corrupted is Taib having billion RM property while the rural Malay and Orang2 Asli still do not have electicity (why not solar power?)!
#8 by Not spoon fed on Tuesday, 14 June 2011 - 12:29 pm
http://www.keadilandaily.com/umno-bukan-lagi-parti-yang-boleh-selamatkan-melayu-dr-aziz-bari/
Umno bukan lagi parti yang boleh selamatkan Melayu- Dr Aziz Bari
Pensyarah Undang-undang Universiti Islam Antarabangsa, Profesor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari berkata, Umno bukan lagi sebuah parti yang berupaya menyelamatkan kedudukan orang Melayu di negara ini.
Malah menurut Aziz, orang Melayu perlu berani untuk berubah dengan meninggalkan parti itu yang disifatkan gagal mempertahankan demokrasi dan prinsip yang terkandung dalam perlembagaan negara.
“Kita sudah lihat bagaimana pelaksanaan perlembagaan disabotaj oleh Umno. Dan ini berlaku kerana orang Melayu tidak mempunyai parti lain yang boleh menyemak dan imbang Umno.
#9 by benilman on Tuesday, 14 June 2011 - 4:34 pm
KSK,you are a has been, so shut up and let a true leader of the people do his job.Do not be a mouth piece of UMNO.The best you can do is join LGE to make a better Penang,for all ,Malays,Chinese,Indians and all the others.Do you not want your children and their children to have a better future?Be honest with yourself,about the way Penang is today.Cleanse your of bitterness and envy.Instead work together for OUR PENANG