Guan Eng shows clip of Fadzil’s apology

By Debra Chong

January 10, 2011

Lim questioned the motive behind Fadzil’s reversal. — file pic

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 10 — The Penang chief minister today refuted a claim by the local branch of the Malay Contractors’ Association of Malaysia (PKMM) that it had not apologised to the state government over its accusations of bias. PKMM deputy president Datuk Mohamed Fadzill Hassan was yesterday reported to have denied apologising to Lim Guan Eng for previously claiming the state had been biased in awarding contracts.
Instead, Mohamed Fadzill said he had offered an apology if he had used coarse language while speaking with the first-term CM.
The businessman added the visit to the CM’s office was at the latter’s request and to “discuss” the issue of 46 Malay contractors accused of being “Umno cronies”, which had been highlighted in the Malay-language media.
Today, the state government played a video recording of the duo’s meeting to prove Mohamed Fadzill had clearly apologised to Lim.
“It’s clear isn’t it?” Lim asked reporters here after airing the short clip.
“I don’t understand why, after he said that, he retracts his statement,” Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, added.
State executive councillor Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim, who was also present at the media conference, said the video clip clearly showed it was Mohamed Fadzill who was “twisting the facts”.
The exco in charge of state domestic trade and consumer affairs added he would be meeting the PKMM deputy chief later today for an explanation before deciding whether to take action.
The dispute started last month when PKMM accused the state government of “blacklisting” 46 Malay contractors in awarding projects in the past two years since taking over power from the Barisan Nasional state government.
Lim’s administration promptly disclosed the full list of awards that showed Malay contractors had received almost 100 per cent of the tenders amounting to RM40 million.