On 11th of November 2008, I scheduled a press conference with the media on 12th November 2008 regarding the Kings of Tennis event. The purpose were to urge the Penang State Government to extend full support to the organizers and to urge Malaysians to come out and give this world class event its full support.
As a Penangnite (politics is secondary on this), I was concerned after reading the postings and comments in various blogs especially HC Foo's Tennis Blog and after reading an article regarding the lack of support from the Penang State Government in the Star.
Unfortunately, our original intention was not to be. It was already too late, instead it became a press conference solely to criticize the Penang State Government. The report in Sun newspaper in more accurate while Star reports of what I actually said was not accurate at all, however it is irrelevant now.
The main reason for criticizing the State Government was because its a norm to provide FULL support towards tourism event in the past. In the past, it was a usual practice to have meetings with all relevant government departments, NGOs, etc to ensure the success of tourism events. It was also a norm for the previous State Government to assist in the promotion and securing of sponsorship.
Anyway, now it became a political issue. Penang Gerakan Youth handed over a memorandum with the following questions to the political secretary of Lim Guan Eng, at the compound of the State Legislative Assembly this morning.
On Sunday, 9th November 2008 as reported in the Star, the organizers complained that there was a lack of support from the DAP State Government. Did the DAP State Government gave an endorsement of full support to the organizer?
Was there any written contract or verbal contract between the DAP State Government and organizers?
Did the State Government confirms officially that Penang is willing to be the host state and if yes, when did the government confirmed its willingness to be a host state?
If the DAP State Government confirmed its participation as the host state and give its full endorsement, what steps and actions were taken by the DAP Penang State Government to ensure the success of this world class event?
Realizing the recent failure of the ASEAN Culture Centre event, why did the DAP State Government continue to took a lackadaisical attitude towards promotion of tourism events such as the Kings of Tennis?
What is the estimated cost to repair all the damages to the Esplanade field and when will the repairs be completed?
If MPPP failed to recover compensation from the organizers for the restoration of Esplanade field, will the DAP State Government provides the necessary fund to bail out from this debacle?
On what ground, the DAP Government waived the full RM2000000 bank guarantee needed for the organizers to set up structures at the Esplanade?
Why was the RM200000 rental for the usage of Esplanade field not paid? Did the State Government waive it?
According to the MPPP President, YDP Dato’ Zainal Rahim, as reported in various newspapers, he is baffled and said that MPPP never approved the use of Esplanade field and the construction of the tennis stadium. If so, who gave the approval and permission to use the Esplanade field and allow the construction of the tennis stadium?
What are the current criteria use by the DAP State Government to consider events for endorsement? In view of these shameful failures, will the DAP State Government established new guidelines and criteria to prevent such reoccurrences?
What remedial and corrective actions will the DAP State Governments take to restore the damage reputation of Penang as a venue to host international events caused by the failure of The ASEAN Culture Centre and the Kings of Tennis events?
9 comments:
Are you sure you want to support Miss Teoh? Read the message conveyed by the Swedish franchisor. It implicates Miss Teoh all the way. Anyway, every event in the federal level involving entertainment will be waived from tax. Come on ... stop fiddling on this issue. It's crazy that you speak for the people when you abandoned them the last 18 years to UMNO
Are you sure you want to ask so many questions? I believe in time the DAP gov will reveal everything transparently, and when that time comes Gerakan will be the ones embarassed that they have not done so in the last 18 years under Gerakan. Just like your demands for the cost of the Korean trip and Jeff Ooi revealed how more wasteful Gerakan has been. What a slap in your own face!!!
Anyway, Ariana Teoh already took full responsibility so stop blaming the state gov.
Yeah HKL,
A slap in your face and the big faced fatty Huan when Jeff revealed what a wasteful useless government Gerakan was - it was particularly intriguing to see KTK brought a whole jing bang to India with not even one investment following the visit, embarassing Gerakan.
Looks like another slap to Gerakan Youth again (who is btw suffering from low membership following nil recruitment after March 8 and mass resignation to join Pakatan) when Miss Teoh has taken full responsibility for the entire episode. Penang govt have nothing to do with cancellation, as a state govt it gave permission and the facilities, and the Swedish company was right when it only blamed the organisers for lack of fund. So Gerakan is ashamed again, really really embarassing :)
Also worth a read HKL,
GEORGE TOWN: Penang is expected to rake in over RM8bil investments this year, nearly double the amount of RM4.77bil in 2007.
InvestPenang executive committee chairman Datuk Lee Kah Choon said from January to August, the state had attracted RM6bil in investments - THESTAR
Looks like Pakatan govt is doing a marvellous job. Investment this year despite economic downturn has far exceeded what been brought in by KTK, whom by the way is not even respected by own party members (UMNO tore down his picture and spat on his face).
4.7 bil compared to 8 bil - LGE almost 2 times more competent than KTK despite economic downturn and no federal support. Just imagine if Pakatan is in federal and economy will be good in the future, I am sure even KTK will apply to become Guan Eng's private secretary to learn a thing or two.
HKL, UMNO say u pendatang, you agree is it?
HKL, you got a lot of questions to ask but why not ask in the state assembly? Oh i forgot, Penang people have kicked every Gerakan traitors out of the assembly and Parliament.
So you can either shut up or bark outside the assembly, hoping UMNO boss will hear your pathetic plea and decide to do you a favour.
But dont worry, UMNO will only ask about Malay interests, as would Gerakan.
I still remember when all of us were sad after AHmad's statement, you were busy protecting an UMNO businessman (the petrol station owner) claiming he didnt do anything la, he kesian la, why you got share or you just scared of UMNO people slap your ugly face?
Fishhook:
Your idol did some serious misleading, the truth will come out soon.
It's may destroy your trust and love for him!!! Instead of apologizing, he choose to hide......
4.7 bil vs 8 bil.
Don't be fool by numbers.
LGE and his cronies are publicists.
The main question is whether those investments real or "eventually" will be "fiction".
Lets see.
BTW, I also wondered whether the Penang government would sign an MOU with me, to set up BOLEHLAND theme park at Batu Kawan, easily more than USD100 millions, of course I need at least 400 acres of free 99 years leasehold land too (I wrote this in Jeff Ooi blog, he have yet to contact me)
May be to help the government achieve 10 Billion investment, I am willing to sign another MOU for 2 Billion to built the Third Link - an underground tunnel running from Seberang Perai Utara to Tg. Tokong. This will use the STORM technology used in KL.
Now it is too early to gauge because they haven't even been in power for long. Not even a year yet. Let's both wait and see. I think two years is a fair time frame.
As you claimed, the truth which will destroy my trust in LGE will come out soon. I don't know what truth you mean but you seemed very sure about this. However I wouldn't hold my breathe based solely on your word. I doubt that would happen based on the DAP gov's recent korea trip which you and OTK heavily criticised that it did not bring in any investment. Do you really expect investments to come pouring in within one week of a RM30K trip? Wah.. if LGE can do that, I think he should be the prime minister and Malaysia will be super prosperous. Has KTK with his 18 years experience ever done that? So how much investments did KTK's India trip bring in after spending RM80K and it's now over a year? I don't hear a word from you about that wasteful India trip. Of course i don't expect you to praise the DAP for making personal sacrifices like staying in budget hotels to save public money. Both of you just spat in the air.
I'll wait for the truth that is to come. But I have a nagging feeling that you would be the one needing an umbrella for all your own spit.
P/S: above comment was deleted because of some typo I spotted.
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