In scoffing a public official's explanation, Penang BN chairperson Teng Chang Yeow has been accused of 'wild claims to confuse and tarnish' the state government.

The explanation involved a RM3 million contribution by a developer who llegally demolishing a colonial-era heritage bungalow on the island some four years ago.

Penang chief minister’s political secretary Wong Hon Wai ( photo ) said Teng’s assertion that civil servants been used as a scapegoat (by the state government) was not true.

“Civil servants have to exercise professionalism in their work and are equally accountable to the public,” Wong, who is Air Itam state assemblyperson, said in a statement.

“The Penang government has promoted the culture of freedom of information and the relevant law has been passed by the state legislative assembly,” he added.

“This in contrast with the norms of BN who governed using the Official Secrets Act,” Wong noted.

“Teng should stop confusing the people and instead lobby the federal government to replace the Official Secrets Act with a Freedom of Information Act,” he said.

Penang BN and the DAP state government have been squabbling over a RM3 million contribution by a developer who paid the money to the state government after his company illegally demolished the Khaw Sim Bee Mansion.

The demolition angered heritage activists and the developer was subsequently charged in court and fined a measly sum of RM6,000.

Account closed

On Monday, Teng, who is state Gerakan chairperson, demanded that the state government reveal the whereabouts of the RM3 million.

Teng ( photo ) said the money was supposed to be channelled to the State Heritage Fund but he had learnt during the state legislative assembly proceedings last week that such a fund did not exist.

He was referring to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s written reply to Muhammad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong) that the fund did not exist.

Lim had said that a Central Heritage Committee trust account established in 2003 under the Financial Procedure Act 1957 had once existed but the account was closed in 2013.

He the account was closed as it was no longer needed after George Town World Heritage Incorporated was established.

On Tuesday, state treasury budget division director Hashimah Mohamed Hashim weighed in sayin the money was being kept by the Penang Culture Council.

She confirmed the money was contributed after Klassik Tropika Development Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the Mah Sing Group, illegally demolished the historical bungalow.

However, Teng had scoffed at her statement, saying civil servants were now used as tools to answer questions of the state government, adding that BN practised no such thing during its rule.

Teng went on to demand the state government stop using civil servants for such purposes.