While he does not deny that "Little Napoleons" exist in the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP), delaying the efficiency of its services, state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow says the matter is under control.

"If they are still considered ‘little', this means they are under control and are being managed," Chow, the state DAP chairperson told a press conference yesterday.

NONE Chow ( right ) was responding to outspoken Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi's statement that he still wanted to see reforms in the MPPP and that there were "Little Napoleons" around who were hampering the council's services.

This included delays in approving development plans within the deadline set by the federal government, which has annoyed some multi-million ringgit investors who have threatened to pull-out their investments from Penang.

Ooi reiterated his grievances against the MPPP during Sunday's state DAP convention, after a dramatic apology he made for his "kucing kurap" remark on low-ranking MPPP staff.

Ooi made the apology after getting an earful from the party's national chairperson Karpal Singh.

However, Chow said Ooi must make his complaints through the proper channel, not through the media.

"We do not deny there are issues to address in the council, but we have weekly meetings at which Ooi can bring them up. There is no need to go to the press," Chow said.

He also agreed that "Little Napoleons" existed everywhere and even thanked Ooi for raising the issue.

'We want to be rid of Little Napoleons'

"It is a disease. We want to get rid of them too and we thank Ooi for helping us to do it," said Chow, who is also Padang Kota assemblyperson.

NONE As to whether the Penang DAP would file a complaint against Ooi ( left ) for saying no one could make him apologise, except Karpal, for labelling MPPP's low-ranking staff as ‘kucing kurap', Chow said "no".

After the apology, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng told Ooi to listen to the state leadership, led by Chow, and the party members, and not only to the Bukit Gelugor MP.

Chow said Lim's advice to Ooi has served its purpose and that "it is now up to the person involved to learn a lesson from this episode".

On the rejection of Ooi's apology by the MPPP workers unions, which protested against the remark, Chow said MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail and the council did not want to pursue this matter.

He added: "They just want to get down to work. Even before the apology, Patahiyah did not want to pursue the matter.

"Since Patahiyah did not want to prolong the matter, we hope the unions (which refused to accept the apology as it was only done in front of Karpal) will reconsider their decision to protest."