When Anwar Ibrahim is fighting his battle in Permatang Pauh, CM of Penang Lim Guan Eng accepted the challenge of Koh Tsu Koon for a debate on land scandal in Penang on 20th August 2008.
However, it is rather strange to see the debate on the administration of Penang was held at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka at Kuala Lumpur. The reason was because it was too costly and too troublesome for TV3 to film at Penang as they have to shift all the facilities to Penang.
What do you think of the debate?
I received comments on both participants and many readers have commented on radio call-in programme too. I find that these Chinese audiences are more supportive of Guan Eng. One said that Koh Tsu Koon has all the chance to ractify series of problems in Penang but he failed to do so.
Below are some pix taken on that night at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka:
All reporters were trying to get the duo’s pix before they start debating.
Betty Chew, CM’s wife (second from left) and the DAP Women MPs. First from left is Teo Nie Ching (MP for Serdang), Chong Eng and me.
DAP leaders and supporters posed for photo before we left for supper
Guan Eng and his family have supper after the debate.
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Dear Teresa
congratulations on getting into the top 20.
debate..ah?
I think KTK gave a better account of himself than the Information Minister in the previous debate
2 chinese politicians can speak well in BM so it was a good chance for all to assess properly the calibre of these 2 who do not get mention properly in Malay language MSM
As much as I admire YAB Lim for his enthusiasm and ambition, I think he still has a bit of “street fighther” in him. He is still in a transition period to an administration leader but he is a breath of fresh air
in the narrow define of the debate, KTK slightly got ahead because YAB Lim did not answer how RM1.8mil became RM40mil. If he done that, he might have nailed KTK.
KTK just shaded it because YAB Lim did not provide enough facts to pin him down whereas KTK gave a good presentation about the “smaller quarry among 4 existing bigger quarry”
but YAB Lim must be compared against KTK in terms of overall track record in running Penang so let’s focus on the entire package and not the debate itself.
dear Teresa,
congrats on your elevation to vice chairperson. I wonder if other political parties in Malaysia have such high posts for ladies before, head of wanita wings not counted
just read that Tunku Abdul Aziz been invited in as Vice Chairman. Great move hopefully would diversify the DAP’s resource, appeal and membership base.
Congratulations Teresa!!
Dear YB Teresa Kok,
My opinion is a bit in favour of Guan Eng. Tsu Koon avoided answering Guan Eng when the latter questioned him as to why the BN state leadership had not taken any action to punish certain exco members for wrong doing on the land matter. All he could say was he had left it to the ACA, and that the ACA had yet find any serious wrongdoings.
Penangites used to call him names in the last two terms of his 18 years as CM, but Tsu Koon has always been very patient and personable whenever he faces the public, no matter what accusations Penangites hurling at him. However, his style of leadership was not to the liking of Penangites who are the complaining lot. Penangites wanted him to deal more resolutely with the other BN component parties especially UMNO’s bullying ways, but he wasn’t seen to be doing so, people say. No doubt Tsu Koon is intelligent and well-read but he didn’t use his capacity to act tough and thus be a formidable leader.
Guan Eng comes across as uncompromising, studious-looking and speak with confidence although he has not spent much time in Penang before he led the DAP onslaught in Pg in the 12GE. I think we Penangites in general like his style of leadership.
Penang has been lagging behind other states for the past twenty years or so. We just harbour the hope that Pg will be a very dynamic state with LGE as CM, and with MPs Liew Chin Tong, Jeff Ooi, PKR asemblymen assisting him.
Dear Teresa,
When I saw the photo of Guan Eng and family having supper in an ordinary coffee shop (with gas tanks and plastic basins in the background), I am very glad that I have supported DAP in all the past elections. I am from Sabah and our CM will never be caught dead having supper in such surroundings, only the coffee house of a 5 star hotel is acceptable, unless it is elections time when he tries to fool the electorate.
Hi Teresa,
In response to Lee We Tak,
I am not impressed with the usage of BM in the debate.
Why should I be impressed? Since that we are talking about Bangsa Malaysia. Is that true talking in BM something that need to be IMPRESSED!
It’s your duty as a citizen to speak, write and converse in BM. Since BM is our National Language.
And please , for MP and Adun of PR. Polish your language skill before giving speech in parliament or DUN. Remind me to MP Loh Gwe Burn…
So I think LGE and KTK have shown ‘a leadership thru example’.
Sorry, I am not good in English.
KOD