Media statement by Zairil Khir Johari in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 14^th March 2012:

The BN-controlled media should not manipulate and take their own media reports out of context

It is extremely disappointing that the BN-controlled media has seen it fit to take their own media reports out of context and manipulate it to falsely portray Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as making personal attacks against CAP President SM Mohamed Idris.

The Chief Minister is accused of making personal attacks against Mohamed Idris by calling him an "old man". This is extremely misleading, because according to the Star's own report on 8^th March 2012, the Chief Minister had been quoted as saying "SM Mohamed Idris is an old man and a respected figure". In its full and proper context, it is very clear that the Chief Minister was merely being respectful to an elderly person.

Unfortunately, we now have BN leaders jumping on the Chief Minister for calling Mohamed Idris an "old man", without taking into account the additional remarks stating that he is "a respected figure". What's more surprising is that even the Star had refused to report in full the Chief Minister's previous remarks in their reports today on 14th March 2012.

For BN to tell half-truths or engage in lies is expected. But for the Star to leave out the Chief Minister's full remarks that S.M. Mohamad Idris is "a respected figure" and then implying words that he had never used such as "one who is losing his memory" does not only contradict Star’s previous reports but is also grossly unethical.

It is regrettable that the Star has chosen to report only in brief and to gloss over the Chief Minister’s press release yesterday over the public consultation process undertaken by the State Government with regards to the proposed 4 infrastructure projects to alleviate traffic congestion in the island. The projects in question are the construction of a 6.5-km Gurney Drive-Bagan Ajam (near Butterworth) undersea tunnel, 15 km road connecting Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang, the 5 km Gurney Drive-Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass and the 5 km Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu-Bandar Baru Air Itam bypass.

The Chief Minister had gone to great lengths to explain the importance of the 4 infrastructure projects to Penang's economic development, how he had sought public inputs and consulted with NGOs such as CAP, which was represented by Rudhrapathy Vijayala (Ravi). CAP is not the only organization that opposes the 4 infrastructure projects. Even Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has voiced his opposition to the construction of the undersea tunnel from Gurney Drive to Bagan Ajam on 17th November 2011. However, public feedback from Penangites, particularly at Gurney Drive and SPU, indicate that an overwhelming majority are supportive and want these infrastructure projects to proceed.

While NGOs such as CAP have the right to differ with the public consultation process conducted by the state government, the Chief Minister believes that such differences of views should be voiced out in a civil manner. The Chief Minister has assured that he would still engage with the dissenting NGOs such as CAP and invite them for the second round of public consultations when the design, route and environmental impact assessment of the undersea tunnel is conducted this year.

There was no similar public consultation by the previous BN government before the construction of the 2nd Penang Bridge. Yet, the Penang PR state government is being criticized more severely for being far more transparent and accountable than the previous BN state government.

* Zairil Khir Johari, Special Officer to the Chief Minister of Penang