The Star Online > Nation
Tuesday March 3, 2009
Penang exco man rapped
By K. KASTURI DEWI
GEORGE TOWN: The circulation of an e-mail on the alleged incompetence of a state executive councillor, including his dismal performance at an exposition in Australia, has come to the attention of the state government.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he would investigate the allegations against State Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law.
Tuesday March 3, 2009
Penang exco man rapped
By K. KASTURI DEWI
GEORGE TOWN: The circulation of an e-mail on the alleged incompetence of a state executive councillor, including his dismal performance at an exposition in Australia, has come to the attention of the state government.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he would investigate the allegations against State Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law.
“I can only comment after reading the e-mail,” he told reporters at his office yesterday.
The e-mail was sent by a “concerned and frustrated Penangite” who claimed to be a tourism industry player for 15 years.
The man, identified as TK Choong Lim, criticised Law for failing to carry himself well as a Penang representative at the recent Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo 2009 in Melbourne from Feb 17 to 18.
“He (Law) was not able to communicate properly and fluently in English which is a must if you were to attend such international fairs.
“How does he expect to market Penang if the foreigners don’t understand a word of what he is saying?” he wrote in the e-mail which was sent out to Lim and other industry players.
Lim said Law failed to understand the concept of marketing and the difference between consumer and trade fairs.
Law could not be reached for comments as he is away in Macau.
Meanwhile, Guan Eng announced that state Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Keow would hand over his environment portfolio to Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh.
He also confirmed that Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin’s religious affairs portfolio has been given to state Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.
Guan Eng said more changes could be expected “as and when it is necessary.”
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My English is good, says exco man Law
2009/03/05
My English is good, says exco man Law
2009/03/05
GEORGE TOWN: State Tourism Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang spoke confidently in English at his press conference yesterday. He made a couple of mistakes in the 30-minute press conference but strongly protested the criticisms on his command of the language.
To a statement by a reporter that it was sometimes a "pain" to listen to his speech, he replied, "but you can understand what I said".
Law had called the press conference in defence against an email claiming he had brought shame to Penang during the recent Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo 2009 in Melbourne from Feb 17 to Feb 19.
The sender, identified as T.K. Choong Lim, had sent the email to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng recently, alleging that Law had not carried himself well and was unable to communicate fluently in English.
Choong, who claimed to have 15 years of experience in the tourism industry, also accused Law of being too myopic, lacking the knowledge with regards to his portfolio and charisma.
Law dismissed Choong's accusations.
He said feedback from several tourism players in the state showed that they were impressed with his performance and level of English.
He said even Lim (Guan Eng) had not complained about his English.
"These are baseless allegations and written out of spite.
"It is not right to judge me based on only an email," Law said, adding that in a scale of one to 100, he rated himself at 60 for his fluency.
Asked if he was willing to take up an English course to polish his skills, he said he did not have time as he had more than 300 dinners to attend in a year.
On why he believed that the e-mail was written out of spite, Law said the state government had recently rejected claims by some tourism players to host dinner for tourists.
"Maybe, he is one of those affected."
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© Copyright 2009 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.
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The Star Online > Nation
Wednesday March 4, 2009
To a statement by a reporter that it was sometimes a "pain" to listen to his speech, he replied, "but you can understand what I said".
Law had called the press conference in defence against an email claiming he had brought shame to Penang during the recent Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo 2009 in Melbourne from Feb 17 to Feb 19.
The sender, identified as T.K. Choong Lim, had sent the email to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng recently, alleging that Law had not carried himself well and was unable to communicate fluently in English.
Choong, who claimed to have 15 years of experience in the tourism industry, also accused Law of being too myopic, lacking the knowledge with regards to his portfolio and charisma.
Law dismissed Choong's accusations.
He said feedback from several tourism players in the state showed that they were impressed with his performance and level of English.
He said even Lim (Guan Eng) had not complained about his English.
"These are baseless allegations and written out of spite.
"It is not right to judge me based on only an email," Law said, adding that in a scale of one to 100, he rated himself at 60 for his fluency.
Asked if he was willing to take up an English course to polish his skills, he said he did not have time as he had more than 300 dinners to attend in a year.
On why he believed that the e-mail was written out of spite, Law said the state government had recently rejected claims by some tourism players to host dinner for tourists.
"Maybe, he is one of those affected."
________________________________________
© Copyright 2009 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.
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The Star Online > Nation
Wednesday March 4, 2009
MCA and Gerakan slam Guan Eng
By MANJIT KAUR
GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng must be held responsible for the alleged incompetence of executive council member Danny Law.
Several MCA and Gerakan leaders wanted Lim to be held accountable for choosing Law to head the state Tourism Development, Cul-ture, Arts and Heritage Com-mittee.
They were commenting on an e-mail which alleged that Law was incompetent, citing his “dismal performance” at an exposition in Australia.
State MCA deputy chairman Eng Hiap Boon said if Lim could not find a capable representative to promote the state abroad, perhaps an agency should be hired to do the job.
“If a Pakatan Rakyat leader is not qualified to explain and express his views to the world, he should not make a fool of himself, and give Penang a bad name.
“There are already a few blunders made by him (Law), including on the Kings of Tennis fiasco, therefore, I suggest that the Chief Minister do something soon to rectify the problem,” he said.
It was reported yesterday that a “concerned and frustrated Penan-gite”, identified as TK Choong Lim, had sent an e-mail to the Chief Minister stating that Law was unable to communicate fluently in English during the international fair.
TK, who claimed to be a tourism industry player for 15 years, said Law had failed to carry himself well as a Penang representative at the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo 2009 in Melbourne from Feb 17 to 18.
Penang Wanita MCA chief Tan Cheng Liang said “quality” representatives were important and that good Barisan Nasional leaders had been “swept away” in the political tsunami of the general election last year.
“The Pakatan leadership is very quick to criticise Barisan representatives, now they have to look at themselves, and the mistakes that they are making.”
Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow, the former exco member for tourism, said that when Barisan ruled the state, the Chief Minister would hold weekly meetings with the exco members and evaluate their capabilities.
“English is really important, and if Law cannot communicate properly in that language, maybe he should just take care of countries like China, Japan and South Korea,”he added.
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