Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Works Minister S Samy Vellu today dismissed the criticisms levelled against them by an Umno Youth delegate.

Both leaders said the issue had been blown out of proportion.

Yesterday, Umno Youth Selangor delegate Ramli Simbok accused Koh, Samy and MCA vice-president Ong Tee Keat of being 'kurang ajar' (rude) towards Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

This afternoon, reporters mobbed Koh and Samy when the duo attended the Umno annual general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

"My name was only mentioned once by a representative from Selangor where myself and Samy Vellu were described as 'kurang ajar'," said Koh, who is also Gerakan deputy president.

He said the incident was blown out of proportion and taken out of context by the Umno delegate.

Koh was responding to an incident in Penang where Samy and him were said to have had a heated exchange of words in the presence of Abdullah over the Penang second link.

"I would like to stress that Samy Vellu and myself were not arguing in front of the PM when we visited Batu Kawan in early September," said the chief minister.

"We were discussing the problem of traffic dispersal. But you know how Samy Vellu is. He might be a bit dramatic but there was no argument," he added.

Agreeing with Koh, Samy Vellu, who is also MIC president, said the issue was misunderstood.

"The PM, Koh and myself were discussing about projects in Penang. We were just giving our opinions to Pak Lah," he told reporters.

Marginalisation issue

Meanwhile, Koh declined to comment on the issue of Malays being allegedly marginalised in Penang.

"That was not an issue raised (at the general assembly). It has to be answered by the prime minister. The current system remains," he said.

Asked whether his state government would look into the issue, Koh replied: "The state government would conduct a study on the matter."

Yesterday, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the points raised by Penang delegate Shahaedan Ayoob Hussein was a ' clear message ' for the chief minister.

While Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik chose to avoid commenting on contentious issues, the party's secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye ( left ) was more vocal.

He took Umno Youth to task over its criticism of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC).

"Umno Youth should not blame other races. They should evaluate themselves. It is not a healthy way to approach things. Instead of finding excuses, they should conduct self evaluation.

"It takes honesty to find out the reasons. Only then can you solve the problem," he said.

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