Resolve Bunga Tanjung issue amicably

It will be more professional if Pertubuhan Bunga Tanjung (PBT) leaders meet with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to discuss and resolve amicably all controversies emerging from the "unconstitutional" dissolution of the association.

Such positive actions to resolve the controversy surrounding the association will serve for mutual benefits and interests of both parties.

Lim told this to newsmen after the swearing-in ceremony of 40 Penang assemblypersons, including the swearing-in of new House Speaker Abdul Halim Hussain and Deputy Speaker, Machang Bubok elected representative Tan Hock Leong.

"My door is always open for any discussion. PBT leaders are much welcomed to meet me to resolve the issue," he said.

Lim also warned the PBT leadership to be prepared to face legal repercussions if it was found to have flouted clauses stipulated in its own constitution and laws under the Societies Act 1966.

He was responding to the 48-hour deadline challenge given by PBT to him and his chief-of-staff, blogger-cum-MP Jeff Ooi for an open debate on the handling of the association's funds and its contentious dissolution.

Dispute over funds

PBT head, Chui Kah Peng, the wife of former chief minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon, issued the challenge in response to Jeff Ooi's comment on the controversial issues pertaining to the association.

In his blog, Ooi said checks revealed that Mt Miriam Hospital had not received any amount more than RM2,572.65, which was paid on April 1.

Quoting sources, he alleged that the Cheshire Home and Penang Mental Health Association received only RM1,000 each.

PBT has claimed that it had given RM20,665 to Mt Miriam, Cheshire and the mental association before its controversial dissolution on March 9, one day after Barisan Nasional (BN) lost the state government to the DAP-led Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

The association also donated RM220,000 to the Bureau of Learning Difficulties and transferred the remaining RM350, 000 in its account to Bakti – the federal association for wives of ministers and deputy ministers.

Lim said he would leave it to Ooi, who is currently on vacation in Vietnam, to respond to the PBT challenge for an open debate on the issue.

"The 48-hour challenge was issued based on to Ooi’s posting in his blog. Give him an opportunity to respond when he returns from holiday," Lim told the packed press conference.

The PBT leadership was offended with Ooi's comment in his blog that used the phrase ‘Desperate Housewives’ to describe the association’s members.

'We are professionals'

Chui said the phrase was an insult. "We won't postpone the 48 hours. We are not housewives* [Correction below]. We are professionals. We have jobs and duties. Our time is precious," she added.

According to its constitution, PBT is an organisation for wives of state assemblypersons and members of Parliament of the ruling party from Penang with the chief minister being its advisor.

PBT, which was formed in 1992, has registered its official address as the Chief Minister's Office at Level 28 of Komtar.

Since PBT was not an exclusive club for spouses of Barisan Nasional state assemblypersons and members of parliament, Lim said the club should not have been dissolved.

* Correction: We have been alerted to the fact that Chui did not say: 'We are not housewives'. The correct quote that should be attributed to her is: 'We are not JUST housewives.' We regret the error.