CM’s wife declines offer by PCCC to sit on panel

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s wife, Betty Chew, has declined the offer from the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) to sit on its property development, construction and management committee.

PCCC executive adviser Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping, who revealed this yesterday, said “it is too bad” that the chamber’s proposal had been politicised.

“This incident will discourage and deter those who are capable of serving the people but with links to politicians from serving in community-service bodies,” he said.

Tan said the chamber was not a company but a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with a track record of serving the community.

“As a bridge between the business community and the government, we recruit professionals, regardless of their race, gender or political affiliations, who are willing to dedicate their time to serving the community,” he said.

He said urban planning specialist Datuk Dr Goh Ban Lee had been recruited into the committee.

Tan said the chamber had not only highlighted and helped resolve problems faced by the local business community, but also carried out corporate social responsibility programmes which included giving out donations to schools and scholarships to students.

On his relationship with the Chief Minister, Tan said he was also close with many ministers in Kuala Lumpur.

The PCCC also issued a statement yesterday to state that Chew had not accepted its offer and that the chamber regretted that its proposal had been politicised.

“Since the press conference by PCCC on Jan 6 to announce our proposal to appoint Chew to serve in our newly-set up committee, we have received much criticism from netizens.

“It was just a proposal and she had not accepted the offer but the issue was politicised and caused some trouble to Chew. We regret the disturbance,” the statement read.

Chew could not be reached for comments at press time.