GEORGE TOWN: Penang Barisan Nasional Youth has denied practising double standards over the issue involving European Business Assembly (EBA) awards.
The movement claimed that it had called for an urgent inquiry into government-linked companies and universities following news that Federal Government-linked companies had in the past also received vanity awards from EBA.
“We asked the Federal Government to set up a special committee of inquiry to look into the companies and universities which are allegedly involved,” Penang Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim and other Penang Barisan Youth leaders jointly said in a press statement yesterday.
They questioned if the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) or the state government had begun investigating the alleged purchase of the vanity awards by both councils.
On July 30, Penang DAP Socialist Youth accused Barisan Youth of practising double standards by only highlighting local councils in the state that had received EBA awards but failed to admit that Federal companies had in the past also received such awards.
EBA was among 10 organisations in Europe and China listed by the Centre for Investigative Reporting of Serbia and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project of holding elaborate ceremonies and creating beautiful trophies to go with hundreds of awards.
It was reported on July 24 that EBA was generating millions of pounds by selling fake University of Oxford awards and certificates.
In 2013, the then Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) was given the Best Municipality Award while its president (later MBPP mayor and now retired) Datuk Patahiyah Ismail got the Best Municipal Manager Award.
A year later, MPSP got the Best City Award while its then president Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif won the Best Municipal Manager Award.
Maimunah, who is now MBPP mayor, had since apologised.
On July 29, she said MPPP and MPSP paid £4,400 (RM20,680) and £3,400 (RM18,408.10) respectively for the entry fees.
She also said EBA did not send any auditor or judge to review the performances of both councils.
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