‘I don’t think Guan Eng is cocky’

Denying that he described the chief minister as such, Penang DCM 1 Mansor Othman claims that details of a closed-door meeting were leaked to damage PKR's ties with DAP.

GEORGE TOWN: Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mansor Othman has denied that he rebuked Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as “cocky and arrogant” during a closed door PKR meeting in May.

He said details of the meeting were leaked and deliberately spun to damage the PKR–DAP working ties and his relationship with Lim, who was present at the press conference in Komtar.

“I don’t think I ever said that … I don’t think the CM is cocky and arrogant.

“I don’t know where those words came from,” Mansor replied to questions by reporters after he read out a statement.

However, Mansor, the Penang PKR chief, admitted to have said that Lim was endeared by Penang Chinese, who form the majority community in the island state, like a “tokong”.

“I only used the word tokong (deity). But it was not said with ill intentions,” he added.

According to Mansor, it was meant to praise the DAP secretary-general, referring to the honour and respect given to the chief minister by the Penang people.

Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow and DAP Youth chief Ng Wei Aik, state PKR vice chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim and PAS state commissioner Mohd Salleh Man were also present in a show of unity before the press.

The press conference was specially called by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) to clear the air on the controversy.

Details of the closed-door meeting between Mansor and party local grassroots Chinese leaders, including elected representatives, were posted in a blog “Gelagat Anwar” in June.

In the leaked minutes, Mansor had allegedly described Lim as “cocky and arrogant.”

PKR probing the matter

Mansor refuted the blog’s claim that the meeting was a PKR election strategic meeting, and thus he said no minutes were taken down.

He said it was an unofficial meeting to discuss party matters and preparations for the next general election.

He suggested that someone must have recorded the meeting proceedings and posted it in the anti-PKR blog.

Mansor expressed confidence that negative reports would not destroy PKR and DAP’s good relations, adding that the party was probing to nab the culprit responsible for the leak.

“I pray to Allah to protect us and give us the courage to continue with our struggle for the people,” he concluded his statement.