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Free Malaysia Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Fury in Penang assembly as exco blasts fellow party rep over ‘leaked' reply
State exco member Lim Siew Khim (left) said Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong's remarks were based on an incomplete answer prematurely uploaded to the assembly's portal. GEORGE TOWN : A Penang executive councillor tore into a fellow DAP backbencher after the latter accused her of dodging a question on the operations of the state's homeless shelter, sparking a rare open clash at the state assembly. State social development and welfare committee chairman Lim Siew Khim lambasted Ong Ah Teong (PH-Batu Lanchang) for citing an official response, which she said had not yet been formally answered in the assembly. The response pertained to Ong's oral question on the operations and costs of the Jalan CY Choy homeless transit centre. He had brought up this subject to raise concerns over financial transparency and staffing expenses. He said the centre's RM598,610 annual operating cost was excessive, with over 67% spent only on the salaries for its seven staff. However, Lim said Ong's remarks were based on an incomplete answer prematurely uploaded to the assemblyman's portal, which she had not yet had the opportunity to address. She accused Ong of misleading the assembly and going against protocol. Oral answers are only shared publicly and with the assemblyman posing the question after being read out in the assembly to make sure everyone obtains the information at the same time and in the right order. 'This is about ethics as a wakil rakyat. You have been here for two terms. The question has not reached its turn, yet YB Batu Lanchang cited a half-complete answer to accuse me of failing to respond. That's a serious allegation,' Lim said. She also rejected Ong's claim that the centre had received public or NGO cash donations. 'The centre only accepts donations in kind, like clothes and food. If there's any evidence otherwise, submit a formal report. If not, withdraw your statement,' she said. When Ong tried to explain that he had based his remarks on the official reply from her via the assembly's internal portal, Lim raised her voice and repeatedly told him to sit down. The confrontation prompted speaker Law Choo Kiang to step in, saying the prematurely uploaded answer was due to a clerical error by the assembly secretariat, which he said he 'deeply regrets'. 'There was an unintentional error by our secretariat. Normally, replies are only uploaded (to after being formally answered. 'In this case, all oral answers were prematurely uploaded to the portal,' he said. Law said the system error had since been rectified and thanked both lawmakers for flagging the issue. Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow also weighed in, backing Lim and calling on the speaker to order a full probe into the error. He said it was only right for Ong to apologise. Fellow executive councillor Daniel Gooi rose on a point of order, saying Ong should not only apologise but also retract his remarks as they amounted to accusing another member of acting in bad faith. Ong later apologised and withdrew his comments, saying he did not wish to further disrupt the sitting.
New Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Leak of assembly portal data a serious intrusion
GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has called for a thorough investigation into a security breach and data leak involving the official online portal used by state assemblymen. This follows the leak of an answer to an oral question from Ong Ah Teong (DAP – Batu Lancang), directed to state Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim (DAP – Sungai Pinang).Chow said the matter was serious and required immediate attention from State Speaker Datuk Seri Law Choo Kiang to uphold the integrity of the assembly."Only state assemblymen should have access to the portal."However, some unauthorised individuals accessed it, took screenshots of the information, and shared them — this is a serious intrusion," he said the premature circulation of the information before it was officially answered in the state legislative assembly was highly urged action to be taken against the officer responsible for uploading the answer ahead of time, citing confirmed that the error had been addressed and the answer removed from the said answers were typically uploaded only after they were presented during an assembly sitting."We will ensure such incidents do not recur."We also hope that assemblymen will help maintain confidentiality when others are given access," Law leak sparked a heated response from Lim during her winding-up speech who had responded to the leaked answer earlier, later apologised and retracted his said the leaked version did not represent the complete response and criticised Ong for making assumptions based on partial information.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bukit Lanchang rep: Penang has know-how to build quake-proof towers — so why haven't we used it?
GEORGE TOWN, May 19 — Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong today proposed that technical guidelines for high-rise buildings in Penang be updated to include mandatory earthquake-resistant designs. The DAP lawmaker argued that new policies and guidelines must be formulated to compel all new high-rise projects to be earthquake-resistant. 'Adjustments to the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) and the Local Plan need to be made to suit current needs and address modern disaster risks,' Ong proposed while debating his motion of thanks to the Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri at the state legislative assembly today. He urged local councils and relevant agencies to conduct structural audits of existing buildings, particularly those exceeding 20 storeys or constructed before 2000. 'It is proposed that the state government introduce an Earthquake Protection Scheme similar to that practised in Taiwan, where earthquake disaster coverage is part of fire insurance policies,' he suggested. Ong also recommended the establishment of a Penang State Disaster Protection Fund in collaboration with the insurance and financial sectors. 'The safety of the people of Penang is our shared responsibility, so we should act before anything happens,' he said. Ong said the collapse of a 33-storey building in Bangkok, following tremors from a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, should be a 'wake-up call' for Penang to strengthen its structural safety policies. He noted that Penang also experienced tremors from an earthquake in North Sumatra on May 11. 'Many residents in Batu Lanchang felt anxious and shocked, considering that this area houses numerous high-rise apartments,' Ong said, adding that hundreds of densely populated high-rise residential buildings are located in the Batu Lanchang area. Ong expressed shock that local authorities reportedly do not possess specific data on buildings designed to withstand earthquakes. 'This means there is no legal requirement so far to ensure that all high-rise buildings are constructed according to earthquake-resistant specifications,' he said. Pointing out that this issue was raised in the state legislative assembly 14 years ago, in 2011, he said there has been no significant change in policies, guidelines or legislation since. 'As far as I know, only two structures in Penang have been designed to withstand earthquakes since the 1980s until now,' he said. The two structures were the first Penang Bridge and Komtar Tower, which houses the Chief Minister's Office and the State Executive Council members. He said the structures were designed based on resilience to an earthquake strength of 7.0 on the Richter scale and within a 300-kilometre radius of the epicentre. 'This shows that the technical capability and structural planning for earthquake resistance exists so it is time that this technology and requirement be extended to all high-rise residential buildings,' he said.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Few Penang structures earthquake-ready, says assemblyman
GEORGE TOWN: Only two structures in Penang are designed to withstand earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale and within 300 km of the epicentre. Ong Ah Teong (PH - Batu Lanchang) stated that the two structures are the first Penang Bridge and Komtar, which houses the chief minister and state executive council members' offices. "When asked about the number of earthquake-resistant buildings on Penang Island, the answer from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is quite concerning, as there is no specific data regarding buildings designed to withstand earthquakes. "As of what is known, only Komtar and Penang Bridge are designed to withstand earthquakes. This shows that the technical and structural planning capabilities for earthquake resistance do exist," he said when debating the motion of thanks for Yang Dipertua Negri Tun Ramli Ngah Talib's speech, who officiated the sitting last Friday (May 16). Ong said it is important for such technology and requirements to be extended to all high-rise residential buildings. He urged the state government, through local authorities, to update the High-Rise Building Technical Guidelines by making earthquake-resistant design mandatory for all new development projects. He added that the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) and Local Plans (RT) should also be adapted to align with current needs and modern disaster risks. Ong suggested that MBPP and relevant agencies carry out structural audits of existing buildings, particularly those over 20 storeys high or built before the year 2000. He proposed that the state government introduce an Earthquake Protection Scheme, similar to what is practised in Taiwan, where earthquake disaster coverage is part of fire insurance policies. He also suggested establishing a Penang State Disaster Protection Fund in collaboration with the insurance and financial sectors. On May 11, tremors were felt in certain areas on the island of Penang after a moderate 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck north Sumatra at 4.57pm. Many Penangites, especially those living in high-rise buildings, felt the quake, which occurred about 500km away. On March 28, a powerful earthquake struck Mandalay in Myanmar, resulting in the destruction of buildings and loss of life.
Malay Mail
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Batu Lanchang rep: Penang has know-how to build quake-proof towers — so why haven't we used it?
GEORGE TOWN, May 19 — Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong today proposed that technical guidelines for high-rise buildings in Penang be updated to include mandatory earthquake-resistant designs. The DAP lawmaker argued that new policies and guidelines must be formulated to compel all new high-rise projects to be earthquake-resistant. 'Adjustments to the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) and the Local Plan need to be made to suit current needs and address modern disaster risks,' Ong proposed while debating his motion of thanks to the Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri at the state legislative assembly today. He urged local councils and relevant agencies to conduct structural audits of existing buildings, particularly those exceeding 20 storeys or constructed before 2000. 'It is proposed that the state government introduce an Earthquake Protection Scheme similar to that practised in Taiwan, where earthquake disaster coverage is part of fire insurance policies,' he suggested. Ong also recommended the establishment of a Penang State Disaster Protection Fund in collaboration with the insurance and financial sectors. 'The safety of the people of Penang is our shared responsibility, so we should act before anything happens,' he said. Ong said the collapse of a 33-storey building in Bangkok, following tremors from a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, should be a 'wake-up call' for Penang to strengthen its structural safety policies. He noted that Penang also experienced tremors from an earthquake in North Sumatra on May 11. 'Many residents in Batu Lanchang felt anxious and shocked, considering that this area houses numerous high-rise apartments,' Ong said, adding that hundreds of densely populated high-rise residential buildings are located in the Batu Lanchang area. Ong expressed shock that local authorities reportedly do not possess specific data on buildings designed to withstand earthquakes. 'This means there is no legal requirement so far to ensure that all high-rise buildings are constructed according to earthquake-resistant specifications,' he said. Pointing out that this issue was raised in the state legislative assembly 14 years ago, in 2011, he said there has been no significant change in policies, guidelines or legislation since. 'As far as I know, only two structures in Penang have been designed to withstand earthquakes since the 1980s until now,' he said. The two structures were the first Penang Bridge and Komtar Tower, which houses the Chief Minister's Office and the State Executive Council members. He said the structures were designed based on resilience to an earthquake strength of 7.0 on the Richter scale and within a 300-kilometre radius of the epicentre. 'This shows that the technical capability and structural planning for earthquake resistance exists so it is time that this technology and requirement be extended to all high-rise residential buildings,' he said.
