Chow: I wanted project to have CAT principles

  • last month
As chief executive of the state, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he is committed to Penang's principles of CAT (competent, accountable and transparent) in all dealings.

Chow told the High Court on Aug 27 that this was the reason why he had said a proposal to build a workers' dormitory on the grounds of the Silver Jubilee Home for the Aged in Sungai Dua must go though due process.

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Transcript
00:00Penang Chief Minister Chow Kwon-yaw told the High Court on Tuesday that he is committed
00:06to the state government's principles of competency, accountability and transparency
00:11or CAT in all business dealings.
00:15During a hearing on the defamation suit against him, Chow said when he was told about the
00:19proposed workers' dormitory at Silver Jubilee Home for the aged in Sungai Dua, he said the
00:25project must adhere to all due processes.
00:28Chow, who is the home's board chairman, had previously said that a workers' hostel would
00:33be built on the home's land without an open tender.
00:37He added that the home was not legally represented by any registered legal firms in a contract
00:42between the home and a company.
00:44During cross-examination, Chow replied that an open tender was a key component of CAT
00:50and he also agreed that his objection to the project was because of a lack of open tender
00:55and a need for separate legal representation to protect the home's interest.
01:01The home's former trustee Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping is suing Chow over alleged defamatory
01:06remarks related to Tan's resignation in December last year.
01:10When asked about a direct negotiation in the Penang Development Corporation land deal for
01:16the Batu Kawan Industrial Park 2 development, Chow explained that it was justified due to
01:21a lack of bidders after publicising the sale.
01:24Earlier, Chow's defence counsel told Tan that Chow's remarks were accurate and non-defamatory,
01:30but Tan disagreed.
01:32When asked whether it was reasonable for Chow to be concerned and to raise issues of public
01:36interests, Tan disagreed too.
01:39With the trial coming to a close, the court has set the date for decision on November 26.
01:54For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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