State BN Youth leaders gathered at the Penang Town Hall today to hand over a memorandum of 10 questions to two local councils, in the wake of allegations that they had purchased fake awards from the Europe Business Assembly (EBA).

The wing also prepared trophies to be presented to the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) as a symbolic gesture to condemn the two bodies for receiving such awards.

State BN Youth chief H'ng Chee Way asked if the two councils felt embarrassed that the awards were fake.

"We as Penangites feel ashamed as our dignity has been tarnished with this report," H'ng said.

"Which department and who is the officer in-charge of the authenticity of the award? How could it happen if there were an officer or department overseeing the genuineness of the award?" he asked.

H’ng was referring to allegations which had first surfaced in Guang Ming Daily, following an exposé on Monday by British newspaper The Times that EBA conferred awards to those who paid a sum for them.

The organisation, which falsely branded itself as an Oxford University institution, had encouraged staffers to persuade businesses and academics from developing countries to purchase awards.

The MBPP had received several awards from EBA including "Best City", "Best Holiday Destination", "Best Cities-Licence" and "Top Medical, Travel and Hospitality Website" in 2014.

In 2014, former MPSP president Maimunah Mohd Sharif was the recipient of EBA’s "Best City Manager Award", while in 2013, former MBPP mayor Patahiyah Ismail, now retired, was awarded "Best Municipal Manager".

Maimunah replaced Patahiyah as MBPP president on Jul 1.

Following the claims, Umno Teluk Bahang assemblyperson Muhammad Farid Saad queried if the awards had been bought with taxpayers’ money.

State DAP chairperson Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the Penang state executive councillor in charge of local government, expressed regret that the two councils were hit by the controversy, saying the Penang government was probing the matter.

He urged the public to focus on MBPP and MPSP's good services and their many achievements in the past.

Undermining investor confidence

Meanwhile, state Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abd Rahim asked if councillors from the two municipal bodies were aware of the fake awards.

He asked which officers had attended the awards ceremonies in Switzerland and Italy, and demanded to know how much the awards had cost.

"How much was spent on acquiring the EBA awards, and where did the money come from?" He queried.

Other questions in the BN Youth memorandum included who was responsible for the issue, whether there were any other awards which had also been allegedly purchased, and whether other international awards received by the councils in the past were genuine.

The BN Youth leaders claimed that the incident had undermined the confidence of foreign investors by tarnishing the state’s credibility.

"What damage-control measures are being taken by the state government? 

"We ask that an independent committee be set up to probe the matter and that the result of the investigation be made public as soon as possible," they said.