Penang Tourism Organisation (PTO), an NGO dedicated to the state's tourism matters, is upset with state executive councillor Danny Law for saying that it cannot use the word 'Penang' in its name.

PTO chairperson Steven Tan said the NGO is a registered organisation with the Registrar of Societies and was established in 2015.

He explained that the NGO, which operates like travel website Trip Advisor, merely focuses on Penang tourism, and is part of the National Tourism Council which has 24 branches nationwide.

"So why can't we use the word Penang when we are working on Penang issues?" asked Tan, who is also Penang Tourism Association (PTA) chairperson.

"The state exco said we cannot use the name Penang and that we have to get permission from Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng before using the word. But we are registered with the ROS and we have proof in black and white that the registered name of the NGO is Penang Tourism Organisation," he told Malaysiakini.

"So who do we listen to? Law has said it is illegal for us to use the word Penang. We prefer to listen to ROS."

At the time of writing, Law was unreachable for comments.

PTO had a press conference in Penang today to express its grouses with the state government.

Tan was referring to Law's remarks in the Chinese language dailies that PTO must refrain from naming its organisation with the word "Penang."

The exco had reportedly said that the NGO was not recognised by the state, adding that he was not aware of the organisation as its leaders have not visited his office.

Tan said the NGO has no problem with the state not recognising them as "we do not receive funds from the Penang government."

He claimed that the NGO is an independent body and denied that it supports any political parties or is on the payroll of any government.

Tan maintained that the NGO wants to work with the state government to advance tourism in Penang.

"So why is the Penang government trying to stop our efforts in promoting Penang?"