CORRUPTION cases involving Penang are meant to divert attention from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, said state DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

“We will have to reply, rebut and expose their lies so the people will not be confused.

“PH will continue to highlight important issues so the people are conscious of the need for change at the federal level,” the state government exco told The Malaysian Insight.

From Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s bungalow last year to an illegal factory in Sungai Lembu this month, the graft cases facing the state Pakatan Harapan have led to the perception that rivals are out to sabotage it in the run-up to the 14th general election.

“These are attempts to tarnish the image of the PH (state) government and our leaders.”

Lim was hauled to court last year and charged with corruption for buying a bungalow at below market price. His case is pending in court.

Last year, Parti Cinta Malaysia, a Barisan Nasional-friendly party, lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, alleging irregularities in Penang’s RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project.

Last month, MACC hauled up state agency Zakat Pulau Pinang’s chief executive officer and another senior officer, who were charged with accepting bribes from contractors and abusing their positions.

Earlier this month, environment exco Phee Boon Poh was arrested by the graft-busters over letters he wrote in his capacity as exco, requesting the postponement of enforcement action against an illegal carbon filter-processing factory in Sungai Lembu, Penanti.

On Monday, previously unheard of civil society body Persatuan Kebajikan Surplus Pulau Pinang lodged an MACC report against two Penang Island city councillors – one for allegedly occupying a government flat for the poor and the other for allegedly chairing a village security and development committee while serving as councillor.

Spin opportunity outside Penang

Penang PH election machinery head Mustapha Kamal Mohd Yusoff said the MACC cases, like the complaint lodged against the councillors, had set the stage for the coalition’s rivals to use the “spin” tactic.

The tactic would unlikely work in Penang, but might be of use in BN-held states, he said.

“The MACC cases are seen as politically motivated. BN will cite these cases in other states to attack PH, especially in ‘Malay’ states.

“In Penang, support is still with PH. They cannot use the bungalow issue. How can they compare than with the bigger issues out there?” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Mustapha said BN lacked real issues to use against PH because development and service-wise, the opposition was doing well in Penang.

He said there were PH coordinators serving the electorate in BN-held seats, and local authorities were upgrading and improving public facilities and infrastructure.

“I don’t see the issues. Malay issues? Disappearing Malay villages? They are suddenly issues now, but not when BN was in government.

“BN was in power for much longer than us, and even they can’t address the issues.

“Under PH, the state has increased the allocation for Islamic development. Zakat (tithe) collection has also increased. We also have many welfare schemes.”

Making graft probes political

Political analyst Dr Ahmad Atory Hussain said the graft cases in Penang would have little impact on PH’s reputation, especially when they were generally viewed as politically motivated efforts.

He cited the ongoing corruption probe into Phee, who is being investigated for allegedly using his position for gratification.

“When MACC discloses details about its ongoing investigations to the media, this gives rival parties the opportunity to ‘punish’ the suspects first.

“Nobody can stop MACC from doing its job, but as an independent body, MACC should do its work quietly and ethically by keeping the details confidential,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The retired Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer was referring to reports quoting MACC sources that Phee had RM2 million in his bank accounts, which had been frozen by the commission.

Phee, who is suing newspapers for defamation, said he was never informed that his accounts were frozen, and denied having RM2 million in them.

“What is the purpose of revealing that information to the media?” said Atory, adding that the case would definitely give PH’s rivals political mileage.

“If a corruption case becomes a political one, people will see it as an attempt to make the person look bad, or even guilty, before proven so.”

He said while PH had made and could make mistakes, and had misappropriation issues, BN, which has been in government for decades, had more serious issues by comparison.

Belittling PH’s achievements

Atory said he expected attempts to dismiss PH’s achievements in Penang, as well as the PKR-controlled Selangor, to continue.

He urged people in non-PH states to think about what they had heard about the PH administration from the pact’s rivals.

“If the Penang government was corrupt, could there be annual budget surpluses? How could the administration pay its civil servants festive bonuses and allowances?

“In Selangor, civil servants received two months’ bonus for Hari Raya recently. The government can even give free water,” he said, referring to the state’s policy of not charging residents for the first 20 cubic metres of water used.

“I think people in other states who do not see these kinds of positive results from their own administration should give the matter some thought.”

The Selangor government ran into trouble with MACC this week when Universiti Selangor, Menteri Besar Incorporated and Jana Niaga Sdn Bhd were raided.

“I think BN is showing that it is jealous of the competency and integrity of the PH administration,” Atory said. – August 24, 2017. – August 24, 2017.