Torn Down and Disassembled is not Preserve or Restore

Penang Gerakan expressed regret that East Design Architects director Richard Jong had failed to explain the “disassemble and reassemble” format was acted on which guideline.

Penang Gerakan secretary Oh Tong Keong referred to the approval letter No:JPB/KM/5020/A (MPPP/OSC/PM(2171)/13) that mentioned: Memulihara Bangunan perniagaan No 218 Jalan Macalister sediada Jalan Macalister. Di atas Lot-lot 914,915,916 & 918, Seksyen 13, Bandar George Town, D.T.L,Pulau Pinang.

Oh said the key word in this document is ‘memulihara’, which means to preserve and restore. “Now the building is gone,” Oh said at a press conference at the Penang Gerakan headquarters on Wednesday.

“Be it torn down or disassembled, you simply can’t link it with ‘preserve’ or ‘restore’,” Oh added.

Based on the document, Oh alleged that instruction or instructions from the Penang Municipal Council had been seriously violated.

“The building which has been torn down is a second-class heritage building which must be preserved and restored,” Oh said.

Oh stressed that he was not targeting any individual or company on this issue. “Our concern is always with the preservation and protection of heritage buildings. “But, only Jong can help us to understand the situation better.”

“Even State Executive Councilor Chow Kon Yew and Penang Municipal Council president Datuk Patahiyah don’t seem to know about this project,” Oh added.

Local dailies reportedly quoted Chow as calling for relevant authorities to come out with a guide for future reference.

Oh doubted the second-class heritage building was ‘disassembled’ according to any guideline.

He said the rakyat deserved to know who had approved the demolition and under which guideline was used.

He said a USM professor might have been appointed as consultant for the project. “But expert consultants have no power to approve the demolition of the building,” Oh said.

During the press conference, Oh showed the brochure for the said development.

“The brochure did not mention nor show the existence of the heritage building. If the heritage building is part of the development, it should be made known,” Oh added.

Show Proof and Criticize Privately

Two Chinese based Barisan Nasional component parties have taken Tun Dr Mahathir Mohmad to task for his scathing attack on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, saying that the former prime minister should back up his criticism of Najib's failed policies with proof.

Gerakan secretary-general Liang Teck Meng (pic) said while constructive criticisms are welcomed, it should be done behind close doors instead of washing dirty linen in public.

"Such criticisms will affect both the prime minister and BN's image. I want proof of the shortfall of Najib's policies.



"I also want to know on what basis he is saying Najib is worst than Pak Lah?" he said in using the popular moniker for Najib's precedessor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
In lashing out against Najib's administration, Dr Mahathir had said yesterday he was withdrawing his support for the prime minister as his criticism had fallen on deaf ears.

“I have tried to give my views to him directly, which are also the views of many people who have met me," wrote Dr Mahathir on his popular blog, chedet.cc.

"This has not been effective so I have to criticise. I have no choice but to withdraw my support," he said, adding that Najib was worse than Abdullah.

Last night, Dr Mahathir had said his criticism against Najib was not personal and it did not mean that the PM should resign.

Instead, Dr Mahathir said he was unhappy with Najib's policies and his soft approaches which, according to the former PM, did not benefit the country.

Liang said it is unfair of the statesman to rebuke the country's leader without giving concrete evidence.

The Simpang Renggam MP added that Najib should be given more time since he only took over as PM in 2009, compared with Dr Mahathir, who governed the country for 22 years.

MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker said during Dr Mahathir's tenure from 1981 to 2003, the former prime minister too had faced public criticisms, turbulence and perceived weaknesses but he weathered through it without attacks from his predecessors.

He said the country's first and third prime ministers Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Hussein Onn respectively, had never resorted to personal attacks even though they had issues with him.

In contrast, Dr Mahathir resorted to personal attacks on his successor, Abdullah and now, Najib.

Dr Mahathir began openly attacking Abdullah and his administration in 2006 over his policies, including cancelling the “crooked” bridge to link Singapore and Johor.

He turned to his blog to criticise Abdullah for his “half-past-six government”, and even took shots at the latter’s tendency to nap in public.

"Instead of resorting to sweeping statements and venomous personal attacks, he should go on issues in specifics and details for the people to judge.

"As an elder, he cannot be the jury, judge and the prosecutor. He should exercise some restraint and decorum," Ti said.

The MCA leader said Dr Mahathir should realise that his days are now over, and that the country has a different leader who is faced with challenges that is different than during the statesman's time.

"In the current challenging circumstances faced with emerging extremisms, the prime minister is still the best man for the job and he should be given more time," he said.

Umno leaders too have rallied around Najib in light of Dr Mahathir's rebuke, with party vice-presidents Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi saying the PM was doing his best in administering the country and that he should be respected by everyone, including ex-leaders.

However, Umno's grassroots wanted Najib to heed the concerns raised by Dr Mahathir, illustrating the sway the former PM still holds among the party's rank-and-file. – August 19, 2014.

- The Malaysian Insider -

Gerakan calls Dyana 'LIAR' on Perkasa issue

Malaysiakini reported:

Gerakan has called DAP Teluk Intan candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud a liar, for flip-flopping on her mother’s membership in Perkasa.

"One word, she is a liar," said Gerakan secretary-general Liang Teck Ming.

She flip-flops, her position is is not consistent, just like her party," Gerakan deputy president Cheah Soon Ha said.

He also asserted that it now turned out Dyana had also helped register members for Perkasa.

She was also wrong when she said she joined the party only after former DAP vice- chairperson Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim left, he said.

"From this few instances you can see, that her credibility is at stake, she needs to answer to the public," continued Cheah.

Empty manifesto

Meanwhile, Liang also complained that Dyana's manifesto released today carried no content. "Generally, I see this as an empty manifesto," he said.

"If she says she wants to strengthen facilities for the youth, where's allocation coming from? Only when BN asks will there be allocation for development," Liang said.

He further said DAP's manifesto has copied Gerakan's which was released a day earlier and also on youth issues.

Liang also clarified a report carried by Malaysiakini that BN candidate Mah Siew Keong had claimed he shouldn't be held responsible for development promises made by ministers during the election campaign.

What the candidate had said was that he was not at the function where ministers had made promises, so he had urged the reporters to ask the relevant ministers, he held.

"That doesn't mean that he would not be responsible for the ministers' promises. While I am satisfied with all media reports, I hope all can act professionally, ethically, and don't spin," he added.

Earlier, Mah said he shouldn't be held responsible for something which could cause him to be disqualified as a candidate.

"The media asked me (yesterday), about some minister promising uniforms and whether that could disqualify me as a candidate," he said.

"But that is a decision made in his work as a minister, so why do you want to put it to me that I am giving out things?" he asked.

Malaysiakini