Outgoing Penang chief minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon has been told to respond to a Malaysiakini report yesterday which implicated him for attempting to ‘bribe’ American telecommunications giant Motorola into continuing its operations in the state.

“The ball is in Koh’s court. He wants names of the companies, Malaysiakini has given (names) and we confirm that is exactly what we saw on the letter,” DAP’s Jelutong parliamentary candidate Jeff Ooi told a press conference in Penang today.

Ooi was referring to a highly confidential letter written by Koh asking the federal government to offer a RM1 billion project to Motorola in a desperate attempt to stop the multinational from pulling out of the state.

The press conference was jointly held with PKR Penang chief and the Bayan Baru parliamentary candidate Zahrain Mohamed Hashim.

Both Ooi and Zahrain have first hinted at the controversial deal, but without providing any documentary proof to substantiate their claim or the name the company involved.

Malaysiakini in an exclusive report yesterday revealed the company as Motorola - which has a manufacturing facility in Penang’s Bayan Lepas Industrial Zone - after seeing a copy of the letter.

Koh to respond tomorrow

penang bn manifesto 030308 pm Meanwhile, Koh said he would respond to the issue tomorrow when met after the launching of the BN Penang manifesto at a hotel in Seberang Jaya today.

“Can I address that issue at the press conference tomorrow? I intend to hold a press conference every morning from now on,” he said.

Koh has previously refused to comment on the allegations saying that details on the matter were vague and the companies involved were not named.

The three-page letter, dated Dec 3 last year and signed by Koh, was addressed to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi seeking the federal government’s ‘help’ to retain Motorola in Penang.

This came after Motorola was mulling possible relocation out of Malaysia.

According to the letter, the government would offer a RM1 billion project to Motorola involving the upgrading of the police force’s radio network in exchange for the multinational staying put in Penang and pump in an additional investment of RM350 million over the next five years.

Motorola announced a RM350 million investment in the state last Tuesday.

The stunning revelation comes as the opposition intensifies its attacks on the Gerakan state government over its poor performance in reviving the island’s economy.

The state’s sluggish economy has topped voters’ concern and is likely to be an influential factor when votes are cast this Saturday.