The Penang Municipal Council  (MPPP) has denied being directed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to revoke the trading licence issued to a relative of state Perkasa Youth chief Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin.

NONE MPPP councillor Ong Ah Teong (left) said the council was not even aware - until yesterday - that the stall in the Telok Bahang market was operated by Mohd Rizuad’s relative Rohaidah Shariff.

When contacted, Ong denied that the MPPP had victimised the Perkasa leader due to an incident in Teluk Bahang where Lim had decried being harassed by members of the Malay rights pressure group.

He urged Mohd Rizuad to stop levelling baseless accusations against the MPPP and the chief minister.

"Who knew that the stall was being operated by someone who is related to Mohd Rizuad? Is he so famous that everyone knows who his relative is?" asked Ong, who is alternate chairperson of the public health standing committee which has oversight of applications for hawker licences.

"We were shocked to hear about this. We did not act because (the licence) was linked to Perkasa. We acted because the stall owner had committed an offence (under the) bylaws. We followed procedure, which includes notifying the person involved and asking her to show cause."

NONE Yesterday, Bernama had quoted Mohd Rizuad (left) as saying that the reason cited for the revocation of the licence was the failure to operate the business for a month.

He also explained that this was because his wife is expecting their fourth child.

He claimed the revocation was linked to the Teluk Bahang incident on June 30 between Lim and a group of people, during which he happened to be present.

Mohd Rizuad has been one of Lim's most vocal critics and is known for having led mock funeral rites in front of the CM's private residence to indicate that the latter was "dead to the Malay community" as he had allegedly ignored their plight.

Mohd Rizuad, who claimed at a press conference yesterday that he operates a stall selling clothes and daily necessities, said two appeals to the MPPP have been rejected. However, he has been informed by letter on Sept 25 that he can submit another appeal.

When he asked a MPPP officer why his appeals were rejected, he was told that it was a directive "from the top".

Chronology of decision

Ong revealed several documents related to Mohd Rizuad's complaint and explained the chronology of the incident, which ended with the council rejecting the appeal to reinstate the licence.

MPPP, he said, was merely implementing its bylaws to enable others who are serious about running a business to secure a licence.

- On July 4, MPPP issued a letter to Rohaidah to inform her about an offence committed under the bylaws, as she had not opened the stall for business for about a month.

- On July 6, Rohaidah replied, saying she was still operating the stall although she is pregnant with her fourth child and was under medical advice to rest.

- On Aug 9, the MPPP licensing committee decided to revoke her licence as enforcement officers had gone to survey the stall and suspected it was being sub-let.

- On Aug 29, Rohaidah appealed, explaining this time that she did not operate the stall for a month because her daughter-in-law was close to giving birth. She requested that the licence be transferred to her son or daughter-in-law, as they are the ones running the stall.

- On Sept 13, MPPP decided not to return her licence and informed her in a letter dated Sept 25.

"She kept giving us contradictory information about herself and her stall. First, she said she was pregnant, then later, she said it was her daughter-in-law," Ong explained.

He added that Rohaidah is not the only one affected, as MPPP enforcement officers are carrying out a survey on similar situations all around the island.