Penang Watch

Unlike its counterpart in KL/Selangor the Penang Chinese Assembly Hall is by contrast a muted presence in Penang -hardly speaking out on issues which concern Penangites despite its obvious wealth and assets. The only time people hear about it is when someone use its big hall (at RM3000/night) for big gatherings. Is that all they can do? 

Friday May 16, 2008(Star)
Gait Tong can vie for fifth term

PENANG: Incumbent Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH) chairman Datuk Seri Lim Gait Tong is eligible to contest the post for the fifth consecutive term.

PCTH Election Steering Committee member Datuk Ooi Choo Khye said although there was a two-term limitation for the top post, an exception would be made in Lim’s case as in the past two elections, as he is also the president of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia.

“We don’t know whether he will be running for the post in this year’s election but he can still be nominated if he is interested,” Ooi told a press conference here yesterday after announ-cing the nomination and election dates for the executive committee.

Ooi said the committee comprised 53 members, which included 26 elected society representatives, 22 elected individual members, one youth chairman, one woman chairman and three appointed representatives.

“Nomination for the society representatives is on June 13 and the voting day is on June 22 while the individual members’ nomination is on June 23 and election on June 29,” he said.

He said a re-electing meeting would be held later on June 29 to decide the positions for the office bearers.

Ooi said it was hard to predict if the withdrawal of affiliations with PCTH by several associations would affect the election but added he was optimistic about the situation.

PCTH, which is an umbrella body for Chinese community guilds and associations, has more than 480 organisation members and 45,000 individual members.