Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Office In Komtar, George Town On 11 March 2018.
Upon failing to do do so, came the shocking revelations that RM 22 million was paid, not to Penang state government leaders, but to those who are said to be closely connected to top BN Ministers. This is another classic case of innocent parties(in this case the Penang state government) who are clean, being made the scapegoat for culprits closely connected to BN, who got RM22 million.
Whilst the Penang state government is awaiting a full explanation from Zenith why so much money was paid, BN newspapers are now spinning a story that the Indian businessman allegedly involved in receiving the money, is a buddy of the Penang Chief Minister and hence connected to receiving RM19 million. These BN newspapers have highlighted a photograph between the Penang Chief Minister and the Indian businessman as proof that the Penang Chief Minister is his buddy and somehow connected with the RM19 million paid.
This is not only ridiculous but a disgusting attempt to smear the Penang Chief Minister by relying on one photograph. As a public figure the Penang Chief Minister has taken many photographs with many personalities, and can not recall how many times or where each and every photograph was taken. Does taking a photo makes one a buddy or one who is close to BN into a DAP supporter?
For instance, the Penang Chief Minister has also taken photographs with Goh Chun Lai, the wealthy but bankrupt businessman, closely associated with 1MDB. Using the latest BN perverse logic, does this mean that the Penang CM is a buddy of Goh Chun Lai and connected to 1MDB too?
However , the Penang CM taking a photo with Goh did not prevent Goh from leading a concerted campaign, and spending up to RM40 million of 1MDB money, to try to defeat the Penang Chief Minister in his Air Putih constituency during the 2013 general elections. BN and its newspapers including a few Chinese newspapers have to do better than relying on one photograph, to try to spin a tall tale that the Penang CM is a buddy with the Indian businessman.
The Indian businessmen is connected closely with top BN leaders. If there are any photos of him with other top BN leaders, does this also make the top BN leaders complicit in the payout of RM22 million. What is clear is that those involved in the RM22 million payout are closely linked to top BN leaders. That is why the Indian businessman was also appointed as a directed of a major publicly listed company.
BN’s attempt to pass off their scandals as Pakatan scandals will not work, when the people can see the BN Federal government for the global kleptocaracy that it is. The Penang CM has instructed its lawyers to study the legal implications of the BN media spinning these photos, including some Chinese newspapers, running down the Penang CM.
Penang Chief Minister Office
—Mandarin Version —-
槟城首席部长办公室于2018年3月11日在光大发表明：
槟城首席部长林冠英一而再地挑战国阵和反贪污委员会证明他们的指控，他们诬指槟州政府领袖向Zenith Consortium及那些获得槟城海底隧道及三条大道工程的公司，收取上千万令吉的回扣。 国阵迄今为止都还没有证明上述指控。
他们拿不出证据，随之而来的是惊人的揭露，指Zenith缴付了2200万令吉给一名国阵部长级人物，而不是槟州领袖。这真是廉洁者当灾（这里指槟州政府），当与国阵有关的罪魁祸首收取了2200万令吉，我们成为代罪羔羊。
槟州政府还在等待Zenith的解释，为什么他们缴付上述款项，国阵媒体现在还要编故事，说一名与槟州首长要好的印度商人被指收取款项，因此首长与其中1900万令吉的款项有关。国阵媒体也刊登一张槟首长及上述印裔商人的合照，以此“证明”槟州首长是他的好朋友，因此与1900万令吉的付款有关。
单凭一张照片而做出指控，这不只是荒谬的也是恶心的。一名像槟州首长这样的公众人物曾经与多少人合照，甚至记不得多少次、在哪里。难道与一个人合照，就可以变成好朋友？或是令一名亲国阵人士变成行动党支持者？
例如，槟州首长曾经与吴春来合照，吴春来是破产的富商，并与一马机构有紧密的关系。按照国阵莫名的逻辑，槟州首长是不是吴春来的好朋友，并且与一马机构有关？
但是，槟州首长与吴春来合照，并没有阻止吴春来在2013年大选期间，利用一马机构的4000万令吉到处派钱，企图在首长的州选区亚依布爹打败他。国阵和他们的报纸，包括几家华文报应该做更多调查，而不是单凭一张照片来编故事，指槟首长上述印裔人士的好朋友。
印度商人也与国阵高层领袖关系密切。如果有他与其他国阵高层领袖的合照，是不是意味着国阵领袖是上述2200万令吉款项的共谋？很明显地，涉及缴付2200万令吉款项的是与国阵高级关系密切的人士。这也是为什么有关印裔商人也被委任为一家主要上市公司的董事。
国阵企图把他们所干的“好事“嫁祸给希盟，他们是不会得逞的，人民可以看清椘国阵联邦政府，在全世界如何因盗贼统治而恶名昭彰。槟州首长已经指示律师，探讨国阵媒体（包括一些华文报）刊登上述照片诋毁槟州首长的司法责任。
槟州首长办公室