Wednesday March 16, 2011

MP comes to MBPJ councillor’s defence

By YIP YOKE TENG

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua and three Petaling Jaya city councillors have come to the defence of councillor Tiew Way Keng who was embroiled in a controversy of handling trading lots at the new Taman Megah market.

Pua said it was necessary for Tiew to clear her name following a report in a daily on Monday that said she could be sacked if found guilty of abusing her power.

“The question of sacking did not arise as she has not been found guilty. Tiew is among the most diligent councillors and I have full faith in her integrity,” Pua told reporters yesterday at the market.

“I think the whole controversy has been blown way out of proportion. The attack on her personal character and integrity is unfair. She has done everything above board, I don’t think there is abuse of power in this case,” he said.

He added councillor Anthony Thanasayan, who fought for the disabled trader, did not turn up at the meeting chaired by deputy mayor Puasa Md Taib on March 8 with all market traders, nor sought verification from Tiew on the matter.

Pua also invited all state executive councillors to visit the market and decide for themselves if the proposal for change was made with ill intent.

He said the outcome of the meeting on March 8 was the final decision would be made in the next Sustainable Development (Mampan) meeting based on reports submitted by the deputy mayor and licensing committee.

“The decision is not out, but we understand traders in the front row are objecting the relocation and that will be taken into consideration. They were agreeable to the move but later changed their mind.

“They have a right to do so and Mampan will look for alternative measures to solve the problem,” Pua said.

“Once Tiew’s name is cleared after the audit, the rest who have been making all the allegations should be called to answer to the audit committee as well,” he added.

The three councillors who showed up were Terence Tan, Mak Khuin Weng and Jeyaseelan Anthony from DAP.

Also present at the press conference were Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled executive director Pastor Sia Siew Chin, who said allegations from the disabled trader Shirley Cha and four other disabled people were unfair to Tiew and MBPJ.

“Even though we are disabled we still have to abide by the regulations. I am annoyed that some quarters are using the disabled topic to gain personal interests,” she said.

Sia said more than 400 stakeholders at the market had supported the relocation arrangement and only five opposed the move.

Tiew said will be present at an audit in MBPJ today and added she had all the minutes and documents to prove her innocence.

“I have done everything according to legal and proper process and took into consideration the interest of all parties, including the handicapped,” she said.

She said when she had cleared her name Thanasayan should also explain to the audit committee as to why he “chose to bring MBPJ into disrepute by making baseless, frivolous and irresponsible allegations in public against a fellow councillor”.