Penang Government under fire - The Star

By Christina Chin

PENANG: The state government has come under fire for appointing more political representatives than non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the local councils.

Commenting on the appointment of 48 new Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) councillors, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) vice-president K. Koris said the state was the “birthplace” of NGOs.

“We have hundreds of NGOs to represent the people yet political representatives were chosen instead,” said Koris.

A total of 19 councillors are from the DAP, 15 from PKR and two from PAS. For the first time in over 40 years, six NGO representatives are among the state's local council appointees. The remaining six are civil servants.

He also chided the state for placing “financial gain” above public interest by appointing four representatives from the business community as councillors.

“The new administration has shown itself to be too money-minded by giving four of the six NGO places to representatives from the business sector.”

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/25/nation/21056143&sec=nation]