Challenge to Lim and Ooi - The Star

PENANG: May 2, 2008

Former members of the dissolved Persatuan Bunga Tanjung (PBT) have challenged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his chief of staff Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi for an open public debate on the handling of the association’s funds.

Former PBT president Puan Sri Chui Kah Peng has given the DAP politicians a 48-hour ultimatum to respond to the invitation.

“The venue, date and methodology of debate will be discussed between representatives upon the acceptance for a debate,” said Chui, wife of the former Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

She said they had faxed a letter of invitation to both of them at the Chief Minister’s office in Komtar.

“We have sought a public debate on the handling of the association’s funds and the manner in which the body was dissolved as baseless allegations were made against us by the two,” said Chui during a press conference in Autocity Juru.

“We feel strongly that any further statements in the media will not be satisfactory.

“They are openly questioning our integrity and dignity in handling PBT’s funds and affairs, so we are prepared to defend ourselves publicly. PBT is a non-governmental organisation registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

“We are not ‘desperate housewives’ as Jeff Ooi had alleged and take that statement as a real insult.”

She pointed out that a large number of former members were professionals.

She said both of them should respond in 48 hours as “everyone’s time was precious”. She, however, declined to state what would happen if the two fail to respond.

Joined by over 20 former PBT members at the press conference, a clearly annoyed Chui said Ooi should act like a responsible MP and check things before accussing anyone.

At the last PBT annual general meeting on March 9, the day after Penang and four other states fell into Opposition hands, PBT members, the state organisation for wives of Barisan Nasional assemblymen and MPs, voted unanimously to dissolve the association.

In earlier statements, Chui said remaining funds amounting to RM590,665 were distributed to the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) (RM350,000), the Bureau on Learning Difficulties-PBT centre in Seberang Prai (RM220,000) and three other charitable organisations.

In a blog posting, Ooi stated that Mount Miriam Hospital had yet to receive funds from PBT, but later corrected himself by stating that the hospital, along with the Penang Cheshire Home and Mental Health Association, had received RM3,572.63.

Speaking to reporters after attending Gerakan’s Satu Hati carnival at Penang Indoor Sports Arena here yesterday, Dr Koh denied Lim’s statement in Chinese newspapers that he, as advisor to PBT, was hiding behind his wife’s skirt when he did not want to issue any statement on the matter

“I'm not hiding behind her skirt because I have full confidence in her and her colleagues in settling this issue,'' he said.

Describing his wife as a principled and prudent person, Dr Koh said she and her colleagues were very capable and committed.

He also urged Lim to take up the challenge to debate with the PBT instead of asking him for an explanation.