My assistant who is also MPSJ councilor, Gary Chong, had been whacked by a poison pen letter lately. Someone using the name of ‘UMNO Selangor’ sent a letter to a reporter of The Star. That letter listed down a few cases that implicated Gary as a corrupt councilor
The Star Metro journalist then interviewed Gary and published his interview together with his photo. Many of us in the party had a shock reading that piece. Although this piece seemed give Gary a chance to refute the allegations, it also made readers suspicious of him.
Frankly, from the content of the article, I can roughly know who was involved in writing that piece. Very simply, if you know who had opposed certain cases and failed to get their way, these are likely the people. One can’t run too far away from that.
Gary told me that he was willing to resign from all posts if this article tarnished the image of the party. I told him that he should never do that because this move would make people suspicious of his integrity.
I had been very upset over this article in the past few days, I know Gary is more upset than me because this is a great blow to his integrity and name. He had been very intolerant of the “fishy” conduct of certain government officers and politicians.
He had even rejected additional licence applications by some of our supporters on the grounds that they already have licences and opportunities should be given to other applicants. He had stepped on the toes of certain people. And now, those people who failed to get their ways turned back and use a poison pen letter to whack him.
I told the editor of The Star that I was upset they published the article from an unknown source. However, I appreciate that The Star has given me space, although not a prominent space, for me to express my views on the piece on Gary Chong.
Below is my letter published on April 22, 2009.
Wednesday April 22, 2009
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/4/22/central/3739841&sec=central
Allegation against councillor baseless
I AM very disturbed to read about the report published in Starmetro dated April 20 on accusations thrown against Gary Chong, the MPSJ councillor and my assistant at the Kinrara service centre.
As I read through the letter (which appears to be a surat layang) that was unsigned and unnamed purportedly by Umno Selangor that was emailed to The Star, I find the allegations against Gary Chong baseless and bereft of proof and appears to be by way of a surat layang.
After I became the state assemblywoman in Kinrara, Gary has worked with me to resolve many issues in Puchong, particularly issues related to house buyers and roads.
As I am in the state exco member and Gary Chong being a councillor in MPSJ, it is inevitable that many developers who face obstacles in their projects have sought his assiatance, or asked us to mediate between them and the house buyers.
Gary Chong is a very dedicated councillor and he has been very strict in his role till he has stepped on the toes of certain developers and complainants in Puchong, as well as some civil servants in Selangor.
It is clear that the writer of the poison-pen letter maybe one of the disgruntled parties or complainants involved in the cases in Puchong.
Their intention is to get rid of Gary Chong from Puchong by tarnishing his reputation.
I hope that in future, the media can screen through the facts before they publish surat layang, so as to protect the reputation of a public figure,
Teresa Kok
Kinrara state assemblywoman
==================================================
Monday, April 20, 2009
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/4/20/central/3722280&sec=central
By THO XIN YI, starmetro.
SUBANG Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) councillor Gary Chong has denied allegations that he was taking advantage of his position for personal gains.
He also refuted claims that he had received bribes from developers.
StarMetro received a letter last Friday which listed several allegations against Chong, claiming that these were facts and information.
The item on top of the list was about Chong forcing the developers to buy shower equipment from him in exchange for assistance to solve matters with the council.
The letter stated that Chong, who is also the assistant to Kinrara assemblyman Teresa Kok, was not genuine and sincere in his position but was helping the developers actively for his benefit.
Citing a recent case as an example, the letter claimed that Chong, 44, had pocketed money from a developer for helping it avoid a hefty fine of RM57,000.
Chong is also alleged to have received a Toyota Camry and a chauffeur from a developer, as well as being offered a huge discount to buy a bungalow.
The latter, according to the letter, was the reason the developer was not being punished for building a show unit on government land.
The letter also said the allegations were based on actual events and that evidence would be released if no action is taken against Chong.
Chong, when contacted, shrugged off the claims, saying these were merely accusations.
“My company, which was set up in April 2005, supplies shower accessories such as shower heads and hoses to water heater manufacturers.
“The developers do not purchase these directly from me,” he said.
On the issue of helping the developer avoid a fine, Chong said the case that led to the fine was dismissed by the council.
“At a council meeting, it was decided that the case was a non issue,” he said.
Chong also clarified that his Toyota Camry was purchased with his own money but that the car was registered under his partner’s name.
“I just started my business at that time and couldn’t get a bank loan and so my partner helped me buy the car,” he explained.
As for the bungalow, he said the idea never crossed his mind as he could not afford it.
Chong also said the issue of the developer building a show unit on government land was decided by the council’s One-Stop Centre, which he does not sit in.
“I was told the developer was given a temporary occupation licence and the council had approved its building plan.
“In future, the structures built on the land will be handed over to the council for other use,” he said.
Chong stressed that he has nothing to hide.
“I have reported everything to Teresa and she is aware of everything,” he said.
Being a public figure as a councillor, one would have a lot of political enemies from the opposing side. All these accusations which are not substantiated and investigated thoroughly are just part and parcel that comes with the job. Just be strong and treat all these as ‘political garbage’!
Met Gary long b4 he is a councillor. I am from Bukit OUG.
He has my understanding and support.
Poison letter is an instrument of a coward and a liar. If you have proof, lodge with police, MACC and BPR (whether or not proper action is taken is another matter; since this allegation involves a DAP chap, MACC’s efficiency would rival or exceed that of ICAC perhaps)
Poison letter is an instrument of gutter politics and employed by the intellectually & morally bankrupt.
If, the Law Minister wishes, get a Whistle Blowers’ Act up to create an aveneue where allegation with foundation can be subject to due course of investigation. That would provide a more proper environment for all allegations to be dealt with in a systematic manner. Poison letters would lose their stature and sensationalised impact.
Although I do not know Gary personally, I strongly believe certain unscrupulous, selfish and unethical government servants as well as politicians are jealous of the good work he has done for the rakyat since 0803. They will use all sorts of means trying to “kill” you politically. Meanwhile, watch out for that “pendatang” and despicable idiot KT and his cronies. They will desperately continue their despicable acts on the opposition.
You can be rest assured that the rakyat will support you at all cost.
Just keep up the good work.
The real target of the poison pen letter could be YB Teresa Kok, since Gary Chong is her assistant. Politicians employ all kinds of dirty tactics to destroy their opponents since time immemorial. In this case, the use of poison pen could be the work of a member of a certain political party out to tarnish DAP.
Have integrity and people ill find it impossible to slander you in any way.
Mr Gary Chong, just be strong and ignore all those poison pen letters accusing you of something that is totally not true and not substantiated at all. All these accusations must be the job of your political enemies out to get you.
We all know you are innocent and not guilty at all of any misdoings. We are totally with you. Just carry on your good work. All the best and good luck!
dear Teresa Kok, we support pkr & dap, we hope to see PR rule the country ONE day, if we still around to see that day come true. just BEWARE of the people around you, they will hinder your success for that day.
check their background thoroughly. check with his old friends and his surrounding.
he should responsible for what he has done (god knows it), friends or people know him well clearly understand the actual facts.