Media statement by Teresa Kok Suh Sim in Shah Alam on Monday, 30^th August 2010:

Tan Sri Rozali's claim that Selangor Malay Chamber of Commerce is being sidelined by Selangor is completely false and baseless

Tan Sri Rozali Ismail's statement that the Selangor state government has been sidelining the Selangor Malay Chamber of Commerce is irresponsible and has no basis whatsoever. (Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/content/47793-malay-chamber-regrets-being-sidelined-selangor-government ).

The Selangor state government believes in economic development through business promotion, which includes our agenda of promoting the halal industry and economic development of the Bumiputera. To achieve these goals, Selangor state government has continuously been engaging with all relevant business stakeholders to work together in open dialogues to achieve these goals in a clean, transparent manner. The Selangor state government has never and will never sideline, marginalise or exclude any chambers of commerce from this process.

For example, Selangor state government organised a dialogue on Selangor's annual budget on 26 to 27 July 2010. All chambers of commerce were invited to attend, including the Selangor Malay Chamber of Commerce. Organisations like Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (REHDA) sent their representatives to present their views and represent their interests at the forum. In contrast, the Selangor Malay Chamber of Commerce did not attend despite being invited, for reasons best known to them. Their conspicuous absence from this pivotal dialogue was both startling and disappointing.

Furthermore, the Selangor state government has formed an advisory body called Selangor Business Council. We have appointed business people, analysts and economists from all backgrounds to sit on the council, including prominent Malay business people and economists and members of the Selangor Malay Chamber of Commerce. To accuse the Selangor State Government of sidelining Malay business people is tantamount to spreading lies and misinformation.

I believe that Tan Sri Rozali Ismail made this baseless statement due to his personal grudge against Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid and the Pakatan Rakyat government for trying to buy over his cash cow, Syabas. It is well known that Tan Sri Rozali is a major financier of UMNO, thus he has joined the fray of Pakatan Rakyat government bashing initiated by UMNO.

* Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Selangor State Senior EXCO for Investment, Industry & Trade & MP for Seputeh