July 20, 2010
Lim said Nik Ali had failed to act as an intermediary between the federal and Penang state administrations. — file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 — DAP’s Lim Kit Siang today asked Datuk Seri Najib Razak to reprimand the federal government’s Penang state development officer, Nik Ali Mat Yunus, over his public criticism against the chief minister.
Kit Siang said today Nik Ali has failed to show his impartiality by calling Lim Guan Eng rude during a press conference by an Umno assemblyman.
“The Cabinet at their meeting tomorrow must censure the Penang state development officer of the federal government, Nik Ali Mat Yunus for crossing the line as a model civil servant,” said Kit Siang in a statement.
“In disregarding the vital distinctions between party and state, and hitting out at the Penang chief minister at a Penang Umno press conference, Nik Ali was acting as if he was an Umno operative, if not the Chief Umno Plenipotentiary in Penang, forgetting that he is first and foremost a civil servant albeit the top federal government officer in the state, who must fully co-operate with the state government for the welfare of the state and its people,” he added.
Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhamad Farid Saad had claimed last week that illegal sand excavation was taking place at a plot in Kampung Kenanga, which had been earmarked for a government polytechnic.
Guan Eng had responded that it would be difficult for the state to probe the matter as he had not received co-operation from the state development office headed by Nik Ali.
Yesterday, during another of Farid’s press conferences, Nik Ali said Guan Eng had no right to criticise him as he only reported to the federal government.
He also called Guan Eng rude, alleging that the DAP secretary-general had made several personal attacks against him.
“The federal state development officer should act as a bridge between the federal and state governments, particularly when they come from different political parties,” said Kit Siang.
He added that Nik Ali has failed to show respect to the Penangites who have voted in the current state administration.
“In showing disrespect for the Penang chief minister, Nik Ali is showing utter contempt for the democratic process, right and decision of the people of Penang to elect the government and chief minister of their choice,” said Kit Siang.
“(Nik) Ali’s contention that he is only accountable to his bosses in the federal government and to no one else harks back to an era where accountability, transparency and good governance are alien terms,” he added.
NIK ALI, 'tajaan' Umno, pada sidang akhbar anjuran Umno di Georgetown, semalam.
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