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Wednesday 31 December 2008

Klang rep calls for Teng's removal

KLANG: Be transparent about the Klang Sentral bus terminal issue or quit.
This is Klang member of parliament Charles Santiago's challenge to Teng Chang Khim, chairman of the Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) in Selangor.

He said Teng should come clean on why he was opposing the popular sentiment here, which was against moving the bus terminal from here to Meru.


"The project is plagued with controversies and the public wants answers for many questions. The people voted us in for more transparency but in this issue, the opposite is happening."

He said Teng, who is also state assembly speaker, should initiate investigations into the project and reveal details of it to the public.
"However, he is doing the opposite. If he can't perform his duty, then he should be removed," he told the New Straits Times.

It is learnt that the concession for the RM17 million bus terminal is for 30 years.

Teng, who is also the Sungai Pinang assemblyman, had branded Santiago as behaving like the opposition and having been bought over by the Barisan Nasional.

"All I wanted was for the Klang Municipal Council to initiate a public inquiry so there would be transparency. I also suggested that a committee comprising all interested parties be set up to go through the concessionaire agreement," Santiago said.

He said Teng must apologise publicly as his accusations were aimed at discrediting him and making people doubt his sincerity.

"This is not just an insult of the highest order but goes against my principles. There must be an apology. There are no two ways about it."

Santiago said the DAP's disciplinary committee should reprimand Teng.

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2008/12/30
Traders protest move of the Klang bus terminal
NST
The old Klang bus terminal before the relocation.
The old Klang bus terminal before the relocation.

KLANG: About 100 traders affected by the relocation of the bus terminal on Saturday demonstrated near Centre Point yesterday.

Holding placards and banners slamming State Assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim and the Klang Municipal Council for being "pro-developer", the traders chanted slogans and protested for about an hour in the city centre.

Trader C. Krishnan said the move would not only affect them but also students, as many schools were located near the old terminal.

He said a group of traders, bus operators and commuters had earlier held a meeting and formed an action committee to protest against the relocation.

MPK councillor Gary Tai said it would be better if the old terminal could be maintained as this would be the best solution for everybody.
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The Star

Monday December 29, 2008

Santiago: I’m not against relocation

By WANI MUTHIAH


KLANG: Klang MP Charles Santiago is miffed that Selangor State Assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim had lumped him together with those protesting against the relocation of the Klang Utara bus station.

“I never protested against the relocation,” Santiago said yesterday.

The move that has shaken the government: The new Klang Sentral bus terminal at Meru and notices about the move at the old one( below). The relocation has led to a huge quarrel.

“I wanted the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) to declassify the concessionaire agreement governing the move (to the new Klang Sentral Terminal).”

He added he had also wanted MPK to initiate a public inquiry so there would be transparency, and so the people of Klang could have the right to information.

“I had also suggested that a committee comprising all interested parties be set up to go through the concessionaire agreement,” said Santiago.

He added that he was perplexed that Teng had gone to the extent of alleging that he (Santiago) had been bought over by Barisan Nasional.

Santiago has given Teng, DAP central committee member and state assemblyman for Sungai Pinang, seven days to prove the allegation or retract his statement and offer a public apology.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, of the DAP, said it was wrong of Teng to make wild allegations against Santiago.

“I agree with what Charles is doing, and I feel that Teng had hit below the belt in alleging that he had been bought over by Barisan,” he added.

However, another DAP elected representative Ng Suee Lim said the issue was a state matter, and MPs should understand the limit of their jurisdiction.

The Sekinchan state assemblyman said elected representatives in Selangor must also understand that they are now part of the state government and no longer in the opposition.

“They must also not behave like members of NGOs and activists,” he said.

Teng was not available for comment.

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