GEORGE TOWN: A Barisan Nasional lawmaker has urged the Penang government to come clean on the status of awards allegedly won by two of the state's local authorities.
Pulau Betong assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Farid Saad today questioned the legitimacy of the 'Best Municipal Manager' and 'Best Municipality Award' won by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) back in 2013 and 2014.
The awards were presented by the Europe Business Assembly (EBA).
Farid said checks on EBA online showed that the organisation in question appeared to lack credibility, and was profit-driven, selling awards to anyone willing to pay for them.
He also cited an online article, titled 'Bought International Awards to Show Off at Home Turf' which revealed that the city of Belgrade had won 'The Best City’ award while its mayor Dragan Dilas won ‘The Manager of the Year’ award in July 2012.
It was reported that the Belgrade mayor had paid 11,000 euros as a 'participation fee' for the award.
"As such, I urge the Penang government to come clean and explain to the people whether we also paid such participation fees to EBA," he said.
Farid demanded to know if ratepayers' money had been used to obtain the award.
"It is most unfortunate if both our local authorities have paid money to the EBA for the awards.
"This is no different from buying degrees from online universities," he added.
On March 26, 2013, it was reported that MPPP president Datuk Pathahiyah Ismail would receive the Best Municipal Manager award while MPPP would receive the Best Municipality Award from EBA.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had on July that year also announced the impending receipt of the awards.
The following year, on July 2, 2014, the Seberang Perai Municipal Council then announced that it had received the very same awards by EBA presented to MPPP and Pathahiyah.
Meanwhile, state local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the Penang government regrets that the two local councils have been embroiled in the controversy.
He reminded local councils to focus on delivering services, and the people's satisfaction would be the best form of recognition.
"Undeniably, both councils have performed well to have received various types of awards and recognitions from the various federal ministries, departments and institutions, professional bodies and accreditation agencies.
"We applaud them for their achievements including the 5-star rating for local authorities bestowed by the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
"We hope that the leadership at the local councils will learn a lesson from this unfortunate episode and will be more discerning and careful when nominated for such awards."