（SEBERANG PERAI (Aug 29, 2010): Barisan Nasional (BN) representatives appointed by the Prime Minister’s Department as “constituency coordinators” in areas won by the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the last general election insist they are legitimate federal officers whom the state should refer to when applying for federal funding.
MCA Bagan division youth chief David Chua, who is the coordinator for the Bagan constituency, where the MP is Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, said the state’s two municipal councils would benefit by referring their applications to the coordinators who are in a position to evaluate the needs of the people in the area.
He explained that the coordinators were officers on the ground to represent the State Development Officer (SDO) who is appointed by the Prime Minister’s Department to oversee federal allocations in Penang.
“These are federal funds the councils are asking for. So the applications would have to go through federal officers,” he said.
Chua said when announcing the BN’s 1Bagan Community Service Team recently. Also present was state MIC chairman Datuk P.K. Subbaiyah, who is the Bagan Dalam state constituency coordinator.
On Aug 19, Penang executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the state DAP chairman, had revealed that the SDO had told the two councils at a meeting on Aug 4 to get the agreement from the BN coordinators before applying for funding for next year.
The state government has since asked for the directive to be made in writing and for a copy of the meeting’s minutes.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, later told reporters the councils were merely asked to discuss the use of the funds with the coordinators.
Although the Penang island and Seberang Perai municipal councils (MPPP and MPSP) had in the past applied for their allocations to the Housing and Local Government Ministry, this was changed after the last general election when PR won the state. The councils were then required to apply through the SDO instead.
Calling SDO Nik Ali Mat Yunos his "boss", Chua took the PR state government to task for its barrage of criticisms against him. -- theSun
MCA Bagan division youth chief David Chua, who is the coordinator for the Bagan constituency, where the MP is Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, said the state’s two municipal councils would benefit by referring their applications to the coordinators who are in a position to evaluate the needs of the people in the area.
He explained that the coordinators were officers on the ground to represent the State Development Officer (SDO) who is appointed by the Prime Minister’s Department to oversee federal allocations in Penang.
“These are federal funds the councils are asking for. So the applications would have to go through federal officers,” he said.
Chua said when announcing the BN’s 1Bagan Community Service Team recently. Also present was state MIC chairman Datuk P.K. Subbaiyah, who is the Bagan Dalam state constituency coordinator.
On Aug 19, Penang executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the state DAP chairman, had revealed that the SDO had told the two councils at a meeting on Aug 4 to get the agreement from the BN coordinators before applying for funding for next year.
The state government has since asked for the directive to be made in writing and for a copy of the meeting’s minutes.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, later told reporters the councils were merely asked to discuss the use of the funds with the coordinators.
Although the Penang island and Seberang Perai municipal councils (MPPP and MPSP) had in the past applied for their allocations to the Housing and Local Government Ministry, this was changed after the last general election when PR won the state. The councils were then required to apply through the SDO instead.
Calling SDO Nik Ali Mat Yunos his "boss", Chua took the PR state government to task for its barrage of criticisms against him. -- theSun
It is unbelievable that BN has to resort to this kind of policy and there are such people as you to stoop so low just to feel important. It does not matter to you that the people have chosen their new representative and not you and what rational is there for the state govt to seek your approval. I am utterly digusted and it is not only me mind you.
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