The Penang BN has chided Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for dragging the coalition into the controversy on an offer to his wife to head a property committee.

 

State BN chief Teng Chang Yeow said the BN has been silent on the announcement of Betty Chew being offered a post on a Chinese trade organisation.

 

He said Lim, however, has blamed the "BN media" for personal attacks on the leader and his family.

 

"If Lim has nothing to hide, he does not have to worry about conflict of interest," Teng told Malaysiakini .

 

Lim announced yesterday that Chew did not accept the appointment to head the property services committee on the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC).

 

Teng ( right ) said based on their findings on media coverage of the issue, BN did not politicise it, as portrayed by Lim.

 

Teng then went on to list the chronology of events leading to Lim's outburst yesterday, in which he blamed the “BN media” for attacking his family to hurt him.

 

"If you want to go for me, come straight at me. Do not go after my wife or son," Lim said yesterday.

 

"Next is my mother, is it?" Lim had asked.

 

‘It’s you who dragged your family in’

 

Teng said on Jan 6, PCCC held a press conference to announce its new board, including Chew's post in the property services committee, while the adviser is business tycoon and developer Tan Kok Ping.

 

Only the Chinese press gave coverage to the story, Teng noted.

 

Teng said on Jan 13, Malaysiakini asked Chew if she had accepted the position but she did not answer .

 

No other media published the story, and Malaysiakini 's report included comments by PCCC deputy chief Finn Choong, Teng added.

 

On Jan 14, China Press interviewed Choong and the following day, the PCCC issued a statement urging the public not to politicise the issue.

 

PCCC said Chew did not accept the appointment, adding that the post is a service to the public to facilitate a good working environment for its members.

 

Throughout the entire episode, BN leaders did not comment about the issue, Teng said.

 

"As long as DAP practised the CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) issue, if they know how to avoid conflict of interest, no one bothers," Teng added.

 

"We did not start anything, so why drag us into the issue? If anyone has dragged your family, it is you," Teng pointed out to Lim.

 

Teng recalled that Lim "dragged his wife to the Kek Lok Si temple in Air Hitam" where she took part in a "going bald" activity ( above ) to fight corruption during the 13th general elections in May 2012.

 

"Now you want to drag your mother in? Nobody politicised the issue. We didn't even see this as something significant," said Teng.

 

"Don't blame us. Please use the same yardstick on yourself as you use on others."