Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow said there was an attempt on top South Korean pop star Psy’s life, which is why Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was asked to leave the stage earlier after the ‘lo shang’ programme at the coalition’s Chinese New Year open house at Han Chiang College on Monday.

NONE “We were told by police, who told us they received information that there was an attempt on Psy’s life. That is why the crowd was placed quite far away from the stage.

“The police too had to make some quick surveillance and told us to tell Najib to come down from the stage quickly after the ‘lo shang’,” explained Teng (left) after attending Gerakan’s Chinese New Year open house in Jelutong today.

The Gerakan secretary-general was trying to explain why Psy, or Park Jae-sang, did not participate in the ‘lo shang’ programme with Najib and his entourage of BN leaders on stage.

He refuted allegations that Psy had refused to join Najib, adding that what happened on the day - where BN leaders were seen a little lost and unorganised on stage - with the emcee pleading for the performer to come and participate in the activity.

“There was actually a few technical hitches. The emcee’s role was supposed to only introduce Psy’s emcee and not to ask him to come on stage. She later told me she got orders from someone else to do it,” said Teng.

NONE “Her duty was only official, but I don’t blame her.

“Psy’s emcee was then supposed to whip up the sentiment of the crowd before Psy comes onstage. Also, there was a bit of delay for Psy to come out as he needed to be briefed about the ‘lo shang’, he did not know about it,” added Teng.

“This activity was also not part of Psy’s programme, which is why he was not told about coming out on stage,” he added.

Psy was the BN’s special guest and he performed his world hit ‘ Oppa Gangnam Style ’ in front of Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor and their children, as well as a host of BN leaders.

About 30,000 people attended the event, although many left right after Psy’s performance, leaving Najib and other BN leaders, with a smaller crowd to see them off.

Kept waiting on stage

During the lo shang (or yee sang) programme, BN leaders were kept waiting on stage for Psy, as they clapped and looked around after the emcee’s announcement, but eventually proceeded with tossing the traditional dish without him.

NONE As he did not come on stage to join them, the leaders - Najib, the BN national head, and former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - left the stage.

The explanation that there was attempt on his life seem less plausible as Psy was later allowed to perform his four-minute hit song twice.

During the event in Jelutong, Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon’s political secretary Tan Hock Sim issued cheques amounting to RM315,000 to various organisations including Kwan Kong Association (RM15,000), Jelutong Tow Boe Keong Kew Ong Tai Tay (RM100,000), Persatuan Bagi Mencegah Penyakit Tibi Pulau Pinang (RM20,000), Yayasan Kedermaan Pertubuhan Swastika Merah Pulau Pinang (RM30,000), Persatuan Kebajikan Pu Ai Pulau Pinang (RM100,000) and Persatuan Tong Au Kim Har (RM50,000).

Teng was accompanied by Penang Gerakan chief Dr Teng Hock Nan and several BN coordinators - Ng Fook On (Jelutong), Tan Yeow Joo (Datok Keramat), Dr Thor Teong Gee (Sungai Pinang) and Lee Boon Ten (Batu Lanchang).

TV2 denies manipulating 'No!' video

Meanwhile, Teng was asked to comment on Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s remark which purportedly stated that Psy had agreed to come to Penang because it was governed by a CAT (competent, accountable and transparent) government.

Teng said he was “speechless” upon hearing that, adding, “So Penang did not exist before 2008?”

Teng said if the people were confident in him and gave him the mandate, he would bring in another superstar to wow the public.

“It’s not about confidence in Pakatan. If they have the confidence in me, I will bring in another performer, we do not even have to wait for the next Chinese New Year,” he claimed, adding that he wanted to thank all those who attended the BN event on Monday.

NONE In another development, TV2 Mandarin News denied that it had manipulated the video footage of the crowd’s reaction to Najib’s question, “Are you ready to BN?”

In a news report yesterday, the news anchor said they did not change the crowd answer from “No” to “Yes”.

“The allegation is unfair to us... We did not edit or alter the footage.”

Netizens had accused TV2 of altering the video in its news programme on Monday night.

Additional reporting by Lee Long Hui.

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