The Penang BN Youth has urged the police to conduct a probe into graft allegations involving a Penang municipal councillor.

State MIC Youth chief J Dhinagaran said that the police have the power to investigate based on media reports.

Dhinagaran said previous reports made by three councillors of the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) - Ong Ah Teong, Tahir Jalaluddin and Prem Anand - were enough for the police to launch a probe.

The trio - who are in charge of the licensing department - have denied that they had accepted a bribe from a woman who was allegedly running a recycling business in a residential, which is illegal.

The denial was issued in a press conference recently, after an obscure Chinese blog featured the allegation and the photos of the councillors.

"I believe it is wrong for the woman to be blamed or dragged to court for offering the bribe as she was the one who gave it," said Dhinagaran at a press conference.

"I am coming out with a statement because I received information which confirmed that a MPPP councillor sought and obtained a bribe from the woman," he added.

"I am told that the councillor collected a total of RM25,000. He had first taken RM10,000, RM5,000 and another 10,000 from the woman to solve her licensing problems," he stressed.

Dhinagaran declined to reveal any information about the woman, saying he feared that her life and business may be "threatened, or they may raid her premises".

Seven days to come clean

When asked to identify the councillor, Dhinagaran said it was one of the trio but declined to divulge further.

However, he said that he was uncertain if the councillor had acted on his own or with others.

Dhinagaran said he was in the process of gathering the relevant information and wants the councillor to come clean in seven days.

"If the councillor fails to do so, we will lodge a police report," he added.

Dhinagaran also wants the councillor to return the money to the woman and to ‘negotiate’ on how her licensing problem can be resolved.

He also accused Keramat assemblyperson Jagdeep Singh Deo of "covering up the case" as he appeared with the trio to deny their involvement in the case.

When met, Jagdeep denied any cover up, saying Dhinagaran should immediately lodge a police report if he has the evidence.

"Our councillors have denied the false news. We want the police to investigate the blog concerned," he said.

"As far as I am concerned, we do not tolerate any corruption and this is a serious allegation," he added.

"If the allegations are false, we will consider further action against them".

Provide proof or face legal action

Ong, who heads the licensing department, welcomed Dhinagaran's effort to lodge a police report if he had proof of the wrongdoing.

However, he warned that if the allegations were false, "we will initiate legal action".

"They are welcomed to expose the truth if they have proof. We are prepared for it," said Ong.

"Please lodge the report. The BN must have faith in their own police force to do the necessary investigation," he added.

On returning the money to the woman, Ong shot back that "we do not practise the BN culture".

"We are not like the BN's culture of covering up wrongdoings".

He urged Dhinagaran to name the person or face legal action for attempting to tarnish the reputation of the councillors.

Ong also said that the woman has never applied for a license to run her business.

"We are not sure if she made an application to any other department under the MPPP".