S'gor MB urges bloggers to report graft to authorities
(The Star) - Details of public spending for the Sungai Pelek constituency were released by Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu, as he refuted allegations of alleged abuse of funds by an anonymous blogger.
Reiterating that documents on the blog (http://t4tbh.blogspot.com) were doctored, he said the details of all public spending were recorded and coupled with photographic evidence.
“We are following the procedures used by the previous Barisan Nasional government and we are doing more, by also having photo evidence,” he said Saturday, adding that all programmes also needed the approval of the district office before it can be implemented.
Liu claimed the blogger had doctored details obtained from the former’s blog (www.colour-blind.org), which was posted in January, to portray the image that DAP leaders were corrupt.
“We don’t take commission on the allocation. The blog claimed 5% to 10% goes to the assemblyman or DAP headquarters. It is bullshit.
“If St John’s get RM30,000 from me, they get RM30,000. Not one sen less,” he told reporters.
Seeking to rebut every point made by the blogger, Liu said glaring mistakes were made by the writer, including documents listing the spending for programmes conducted in January and February last year.
“As you all know, we came to power in March 2008. Our first allocation (for programmes) only started in July. It took a while for the new government to come up with the funds as the previous government had used up all the allocation for the year,” he said.
He said many entries were made up, such as the purchase of hampers to the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) of Seberang Perai, Penang.
On the blogger’s claim that Teoh Beng Hock left behind a hard disk containing evidence of wrongdoings by DAP leaders, Liu said he did not believe such an item existed.
On why Liu, who is Pandamaran assemblyman, was taking charge of the state allocation for Sungai Pelek, he said there were caretaker assemblymen for each constituency won by Barisan representatives.
“This was decided by the state exco because we do not trust Barisan assemblymen,” he said.
Liu also explained why Sepang municipal councillor Wong Chuan How was recipient of many payments in the constituency.
“Wong is not a contractor. Sometimes cheques go to my service centre first, and Wong is the account holder to my service centre.
“This happens when we cannot issue cheques directly, such as (payments) for currypuffs, canopies and PA system,” he said.
Wong, who was present at the press conference, said he is also the special assistant to Liu for the Sungai Pelek constituency as well as Sungai Pelek DAP branch secretary.
Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, who was also implicated by the blogger, and Wong will lodge a report at the Shah Alam district police headquarters Sunday.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported from Shah Alam that Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim urged those with information on corruption to show a sense of responsibility by reporting the matter to the authorities, and not just expose it in through blogs.
He said the state government welcomed such reports to prove the validity of the allegations of corruption.
“If there is corruption, the public should not just publish these activities in blogs but must take the matter to authorities.
“I encourage their efforts, but sometimes, stories in blogs are not always 100 per cent true,” he said in a news conference after launching the 2009 Selangor Book Festival here Saturday.
Abdul Khalid said there were blogs created to give negative views of a target, but hoped bloggers chose to be ethical and ensured that the information on their sites were true.
When asked if the state government would investigate the allegations made in the blog, he said: “We will monitor it. If the allegations are true, we will take action but now, we hope bloggers will not become agents for certain parties as they (bloggers) are considered a group who respect press freedom and justice to the community.”
Abdul Khalid said bloggers should adopt a gentleman’s approach by revealing their identities, instead of concealing themselves and making allegations.
“However, we will not look for the blogger’s identity as it’s a waste of time. We must accept the fact that when we have an open and transparent society, we will face this situation.
“The people are wise enough to judge what is right and wrong,” he said.
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