Has the MPPP gone overboard with Jessie Ooi's comments? How should a good government deal with critics and opponents?

How does the government, be it the Federal government, the State government and/or the Local Government, deal with criticisms (even allegations), other opinions and questions?

Well, when it came to the BN - it was not very good, but alas I am sad to see that when it comes to the Opposition governments, it seems to be also the same. And this is very very sad...

The recent Malaysiakini report which reported what the MPPP Councillors (i.e. those appointed by the Pakatan Rakyat state government - not yet elected by the people) would like to do in response to allegations made by a person..

"...A group of Penang municipal (MPPP) councillors today expressed their unhappiness over MCA Beliawanis chief Jessie Ooi’s statement condemning local council workers for carrying out car clamping exercises.The councillors have vowed to take action against Ooi, and the kind of action will be decided at a full council meeting on Friday...."

First - people need to be encouraged to express themselves and their opinions, which sometimes may be allegations based on information they heard or gathered from others. The likelihood that there may be inaccuracies and/or inconsistencies is always there, and should be naturally accepted.

Second - Government and/or government officials/officers response must be (1) Investigation, and (2) Report the Result of the said Investigation and clarify any inaccuracies.[Being government, they can use all the available venues to do this]. A meeting/dialogue with the person/s who raised the concern and members of the public is also a good thing for the sake of accountability and transparency. Very wrong to condemn, demonize, threathen action against critics - even the worse of them.

Thirdly - If there were some basis for the allegations/comments, then the government should be open to suggestions for improvements. [On this clamping car allegations - maybe one need to be put in place avenues of complaints - phone numbers/emails one could call up and make allegations]. Maybe, a special council meeting that is open to the public, not during working hours, could be held to listen to the allegations, give the MPPP's feedback and listen to general comments/points made by the members of the public.

Are the MPPP Local Council meetings open to the public?? Are there open-dialogue with members of the public held on a regular basis at the MPPP - of course after working hours?

In reference to the Malaysiakini report, I believe that the MPPP is really over-reacting and they are getting very personal with the person who has raised these allegations/comments. Is this clouded by the fact that she is a member of an Opposition party? This should not be. 

"Councillor Ong Ah Teong said the council is mulling action against Ooi as she has slandered the enforcement officers who were merely carrying out their duties, according to standard operating procedures."

Apparently, some of the MPPP members are 'vowing'... this is getting a bit too much, is it not. From the report, they want to 'condemn' her...

Meanwhile, another MPPP councillor, L Prem Anand (right), said the councillors will move a motion at Friday’s meeting to condemn Ooi for her false remarks.

Come now, I do want change - a change from BN rule to Pakatan rule - and so, when I see the Pakatan Rakyat's appointed councilors doing this, it saddens me and I hope that a review of what happened is done, and a better Code of Conduct be developed emphasing openess to criticisms and even opposition, accountability and transparency. 

What is happening this Jessie Ooi, which really may be a 'political response' given the fact that she is some MCA person will have an impact - It will scare other persons from criticizing or opposing or disagreeing with actions, positions, policy of the government. Why? Because the risk that they will turn their guns on you...for your comments. Maybe, just being silent is the best. Hello...we want to liberate all Malaysians from this culture of silence so that they can be more participative in government at all levels.. 

MPPP has answered - have clarified, and that should be that. There is no need for threats or condemnation or further action against her..This is my opinion.

Apologise or face action, councillors warn Jessie Ooi

Susan Loone 2:26PM Feb 22, 2012

A group of Penang municipal (MPPP) councillors today expressed their unhappiness over MCA Beliawanis chief Jessie Ooi’s statement condemning local council workers for carrying out car clamping exercises.

The councillors have vowed to take action against Ooi, and the kind of action will be decided at a full council meeting on Friday.

The group wants Ooi to retract her remarks regarding clamping and towing of cars in Penang by council workers, claiming her's were all “baseless accusations”.

The councillors are giving Ooi until Friday to retract and apologise for her statement “disparaging the reputation of council workers”.

Ooi became infamous overnight over the manner in which she posed questions to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, during the great debate with MCA president Chua Soi Lek on Feb 18 in Kuala Lumpur.

After attracting bags of criticism for her remarks, she cried harassment and has vowed to take legal actionagainst those who defamed her on the Internet.

During the press conference held by the councillors at the MPPP building in Padang Kota Lama today, a video clip was screened, showing Ooi in action.

Councillor Ong Ah Teong said the council is mulling action against Ooi as she has slandered the enforcement officers who were merely carrying out their duties, according to standard operating procedures.

Ong added that Ooi’s statements were contradictory; during the debate she had questioned why cars needed to be clamped when there were hardly any vehicles around at about 10.30pm.

Later, she told the press that the area on Beach Street lacked parking lots, Ong said.

“What does she really mean? She has to come clear on this. There are about 1,000 parking lots in the area that she mentioned,” said Ong.

“She also said someone had been injured during a scuffle with an enforcement office over a clamping incident, however, it is the officer who was actually hurt and he has lodged a police report.”

Officers in scuffle with youths

The incident reportedly took place last October when an officer issued a ticket to a man for illegally parking along Jalan Burmah.

The man was said to have expressed his unhappiness over the matter, refused to accept the ticket, and informed his son, who later arrived at the scene with six others, and a scuffle ensued.

But the officer Shamsul Mohd Noor(right), who was at the press conference, claimed that the youth hit him and his colleague Jamaluddin Karim with a helmet as both were on duty on the day in question.

The duo have since lodged a police report and claimed that the youth had been detained for causing hurt to the officers as there was a CCTV camera at the scene of the incident.

“We did not fight back because we are not allowed to do so, according to our duties and responsibilities,” he said.

“But while the scuffle happened, we tried to avoid being hit, and the youth’s brother who was also there, got hit by the helmet instead."

Meanwhile, another MPPP councillor, L Prem Anand (right), said the councillors will move a motion at Friday’s meeting to condemn Ooi for her false remarks.

He added that the allegations against the council workers and the increase in Penang’s assessment rates are “baseless”.

“She is desperate and emotional. She went to the debate only to attack Guan Eng, not to ask questions during the debate,” he added.

Councillor Iszuree Ibrahim said Ooi’s remarks appear to be defending the wrongdoers and this reflects poorly on the party’s reputation.

“Her remarks are a slap in her own face and the party. She tried to get publicity for herself but without knowing it, it backfired on her and her party,” he added.
MPPP provides 395 parking lots in Beach Street 
On a related matter, councillor Muhammad Sabri Md Osman said MPPP has provided 56 metered and 136 ticketed parking lots, while a multi-storey carpark had been recently build for 203 vehicles in Beach Street.

Along the street, added Muhammad Sabri, are other alternative places available for drivers to park their cars, for example, in Lebuh Union, Gat Lebuh Gereja and Gat Lebuh Cina.

There are 28 parking lots  and 273 lots in a multi-story carpark in Lebuh Union alone; 57 in Gat Lebuh Gereja and 76 in Gat Lebuh Cina, he added.

There were a total of 829 lots provided for parking by the MPPP, and they do not include those by the private sector, he stressed.

Muhammad Sabri also said that clamping and towing are provided for under Section 48 of the 1987 Road Transport Act (Amended 2011).

“According to the enforcement records, no vehicle was towed away in Beach Street at the purported time of 10.30pm, as claimed by Ooi. So far the MPPP had only towed away 12 cars around Penang,” he noted.

“And until today, there had only been one case of violence being reported, which actually involved injury to our own staff. The case is still being probed by the police,” he added.- Malaysiakini, 22/2/2012, Apologise or face action, councillors warn Jessie Ooi

Wonder how many media statements and/or press conferences have the MPPP had, and on what important issues. Jessie Ooi made an allegation. The MPPP has responded publicly. Regarding the alleged incident, apparently a police report has already been lodged...So really, as far as the Local Council, the issue should be considered closed. The Local Councillors are public servants, and should not use their office and resources for other purposes. Wonder whether this may be considered a 'political issue' - an issue to attack the MCA or BN. Hopefully not, for we have so many times criticized the BN for doing just that - using public resources and also officers to promote BN and attack the Opposition. - Charles Hector