Media Statement by Liew Chin Tong in George Town on Monday, 15^th March 2010:

Falsehood about Chinese candidates proposed as State Secretary

During my debate with Gerakan Secretary-General Teng Chang Yeow on Saturday 13th March at the Penang Chinese Town Hall, Teng alleged that two ethnic Chinese candidates were proposed for the position of Penang State Secretary by the Federal Government in early 2009, but were turned down by the Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng.

I was not privy to the communications between the Federal and State Governments over the appointment of the State Secretary and hence could not refute Teng's statement.

I have since checked with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who has confirmed that there were indeed no ethnic Chinese candidates offered by the Federal Government as candidate for the said position.

The position has since been held by Dato Zainal Rahim, the candidate proposed by the Chief Minister.

DAP condemns the racial approach taken by Gerakan and Chang Yeow in his attempt to discredit the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

The PR state government is a firm believer in meritocracy and holds neither ethnic nor racial or gender bias that would influence its appointments of senior civil servants.

Chang Yeow should apologise to the people of Penang for spreading this falsehood in an attempt to racialise the subject matter during his debate with me.

* Liew Chin Tong, DAP International Secretary & MP for Bukit Bendera