Zambry: Ngeh vs Mah debate can proceed, but unsanctioned

Zambry himself has not accepted debates with Nizar

IPOH — Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Kadir today described an open invitation for debate by the state executive councillor (exco) Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon to Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, as the exco member’s personal right and choice.

As such, he said Dr Mah did not have to get the green light from the state government as requested by Ngeh.

“This is their personal affair. So, let them solve it, I don’t see why Ngeh has to put a condition that Dr Mah should obtain the endorsement of the state government,” he told reporters after visiting the Perak Land and Mineral Office here.

In July, Dr Mah invited Ngeh to an open debate to compare the administration policies of BN and the Opposition.

After months of silence, Ngeh accepted the challenge last Saturday on condition that Dr Mah obtain the BN-led state government’s endorsement to speak as its representative.

Ngeh also set the time and venue of the debate at 8pm on Nov 1, at the Kwangtung Association in Taiping.

On another development, the menteri besar said the state government had always conducted tight monitoring to combat illegal sand mining activities in the state.

He said the state government’s determination in enforcement was shown through the State Land and Mineral Office records which stated that action was taken against 97 cases, concerning violation of sand mining permits and one case referred to the court.

“We will not compromise (with any quarters) in this issue, especially if it involves government officers and staff,” he said when asked to comment on the Auditor-General’s Report 2009 which stated that the sand mining activities in Perak were unsatisfactory as too many regulations stipulated by Land and Mineral Department had been violated.

The report also suggested that continuous enforcement and monitoring work should be carried out by the department so that sand mining activities would not cause environmental impact and reduce the state government’s revenue.

Zambry said the state government was in the midst of identifying a more suitable sand mining management to replace the existing one.

“With the current development, the existing procedures are probably no longer suitable and we need new methods, especially in terms of effective action and enforcement to ensure illegal sand mining activities will not be rampant,” he added. — Bernama