Guan Eng has no respect for press, says Penang BN chief
Teng accused Lim of no longer respecting the freedom of the press after the chief minister barred certain media outlets from the state’s events. — File picGEORGE TOWN, June 4 — Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Teng Chang Yeow regards Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as someone who does not respect the media.
He said Lim’s attitude of not allowing certain media to cover functions organised by the state government and often threatening to sue the media, showed the true character of the chief minister who did not practise press freedom like what he used to preach before coming into power in Penang.
Teng said this undesirable culture had even spread to some leaders of the state government agencies who, among them, refused to “salam” or shake hands with media representatives.
“This never happened under BN rule in Penang although their leadership style, including that of then chief minister, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon was criticised by the media,” he told reporters, here, today.
On Penang BN’s preparations for the 13th general election, Teng said it would be mobilising its machinery at the divisional level from the middle of this month through the “Semboyan Dibunyikan” (Sounding the Siren) programme.
He said the information and publicity programme would also kick off the soonest possible to create public awareness on a number of issues including press freedom, low-cost housing and traffic flow.
Teng said the use of the new media would also be intensified to explain issues involving flaws in the state government’s administration.
“We have received all the proposals made and we have ordered that these be disseminated soonest possible. We’ve all the data and we’ve agreed to act fast.”
Teng also said that Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was expected to visit the Bagan parliamentary constituency on June 16 at 3pm.
He said some 20,000 residents were expected to attend the “An Evening With The Deputy Prime Minister” event in Jalan Raja Uda, Bagan.
“We’ve also received support from traders in Bagan for the event. All are invited including people from outside Bagan to meet the deputy prime minister,” he added. — Bernama
