GEORGE TOWN: The 500-odd strong Penang media has demanded Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng apologise for accusing its members of being biased.
Members of the Penang press, the majority from several Chinese newspaper organisations, expressed their dissatisfaction during a press conference, jointly organised by the Penang Press Club (PPC) and Pertubuhan Wartawan dan Jurugambar Akhbar Cina Pulau Pinang (Perwaju).
Their spokesman, PPC president Teoh Boon Liang, claimed Lim lied when he accused a journalist from a Chinese daily for ticking off state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh during a press conference related to the Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) issue on Aug 20.
“Our honourable chief minister had misled the public to believe that a reporter had scolded one of the state legislative representatives. It is impolite of him to accuse the Chinese press that we do not dare to confront Umno in the same manner without concrete evidence.
“This seems to have been done with the intention to tarnish the image of the media,” Teoh said to some 40 reporters, both from the print and electronic media at the Corner Club in Persiaran Gurney here yesterday.
The incident was recorded on video, where a reporter of a Chinese daily had asked Phee on about claims by certain quarters that the PPS that he chaired had been infiltrated by gangsters. Phee, who appeared agitated at the question, raised his voice and rambled at the reporter before denying the claim.
He said: “You can say Phee Boon Poh is a gangster but you cannot say PPS is a gangster. You understand or not?”
When pressed further, Phee said “No such thing (gangsterism in PPS)”.
Two days later, Lim, during a press conference, was said to have slammed the Chinese press for “bullying and scolding Phee”.
He was alleged to have said Chinese press reporters only dared to bully good leaders but didn’t dare to confront Umno.
Disturbed by Lim’s accusation, Teoh said PPC and Perwaju approached Lim for him to apologise.
However, Lim kept mum.
Failing to get Lim to own up, the two organisations, decided to go public with their demand.
Teoh described the DAP-led state government’s competence, accountability and transparency (CAT) as a sham.
“Whatever is leveled against us are against the CAT principles of Penang Government which he himself had preached.
“He did not provide any evidence or held an open inquiry on the alleged scolding incident.
“We have asked the CM to apologise but he did not respond. So, we are again asking him to apologise,” he said.
Lim, when met at a press conference in Komtar, said “I have to look at the news report before I answer that.”