Another outburst by CM’s Chief of Staff

Press Statement

Wednesday, 1 April 2009

The public tiff between Penang Chief Minister’s Chief of Staff Jeff Ooi and state executive councilor in charge of local government, Chow Kon Yeow, seemed to have widened, with Ooi publicly criticising a head of department of the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP).

In a statement, Penang Gerakan Assistant Secretary Goh Kheng Sneah said Ooi’s outburst that “the head was not doing his job well” was unwarranted.

“Ooi could have sorted out his unhappiness to Chow internally, since both are key DAP leaders, if the officer’s performance was not up to his expectations,” said Goh.

During a ‘spot check’ on cleanliness at the Batu Lanchang market on Monday, Ooi, who is also Jelutong MP, was reported in the Chinese newspapers as saying that he was dissatisfied with the performance of heads of departments of MPPP. Ooi singled out one particular head of department.

Ooi had also expressed his unhappiness over the council’s tender system on cleanliness and garbage collection. He also urged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to look into cases of poor performance by council contractors.

Goh said Chow as the Exco member in charge of local government, was responsible for the performance of MPPP and MPSP and their personnel and he should be given the respect and be consulted first.

“It is all right for Ooi to visit Batu Lanchang market which is within his parliamentary constituency. But if he has problems with the performance of officers of the MPPP, he could have invited Chow to follow along or brought up the matter with the latter after the visit,” said Goh.

Last Wednesday, Ooi announced that he would relinquish his post as chief of staff on completion of several tasks entrusted to him. His announcement followed speculation that he was resigning and reports that he was unhappy with local councils.

The following day, Chow responded that he should be the one to quit if the performance of local councils in the state was not satisfactory.