DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has urged local councillors not to take advantage of their position to acquire or hold on to business opportunities and to delay payments owed to the state.
He made the call in response to the case of Mohd Sani Jantan, a councillor with the Malacca Historical City Council, who owes the state RM41,000 in rent arrears, since Oct 2004, for a kiosk in the Hang Tuah Mall.
“He should resign as a councillor, which is a state appointed position. He is not setting a good example to others,” Lim said.
"Although the councillor had acquired the kiosk prior to his appointment to the council, it does not mean he should keep the space or default on the rent,” he pointed out.
“Mohd Sani’s actions reflect a self-serving interest and an example of abuse of power. The state is also responsible and cannot allow its cronies to take advantage of these opportunities,” he added.
Double standards
The DAP leader also questioned the move by the state to publish only the names of certain rent defaulters in its state-operated newspaper Melaka Minggu Ini.
The list, in its March 11-13 issue, only named 15 defaulters who owe the state between RM420 to RM1,400.
However six defaulters owing amounts ranging from RM3,000 to RM45,000 - one of whom is Mohd Sani - had their names ‘protected’ and were not listed in the paper.
“Why is the state government practising double standards in this humiliating exercise aimed at shaming defaulters? You can name someone owing RM420 but not someone owing RM41,00?” Lim asked in amusement.
Malacca Mayor Zaini Mohd Nor is reported to have said that efforts have been made to compel the defaulters, including Mohd Sani, to pay up.
He added that Mohd Sani was allowed to continue operating his café in the mall because he had made efforts - albeit irregularly - to pay the arrears in instalments.
When contacted, Mohd Sani declined to speak to malaysiakini.
Exorbitant expenditures
The Hang Tuah Mall, operational for more than a year, is similar to Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Bintang Walk. It is a well patronised open-air eatery walkway.
The mall project has used up much public funds and opposition leaders have questioned the high costs incurred.
DAP state assemblyperson Betty Chew had raised the issue in the Malacca state assembly last year.
In a written reply to Chew’s queries, a copy of which was made available to malaysiakini today, the excessive expenditures listed down by the state government included RM17,600 for 20 pieces of dustbins and RM35,200 for 20 benches.
“The market price for those dustbins - which are ordinary ones - is RM80 each. The state paid RM880 for one piece,” said an astonished Lim.
He called on the state to be more accountable in its projects and has asked for a complete list of expenses incurred in the mall project.
The DAP has also been leading a campaign to reinstate local elections which would allow the public to vote for local councillors.
