Penang Watch

Conflict of interests real reason why Ahmad Ismail must be stopped!Ahmad Ismail is reportedly trying hard to pull strings within UMNO to allow him to continue as UMNO Whip and Councilor in MPPP. A survey of the excuses he or his party colleague gave shows that he is unrepentent of the conflict of interests that the continuation of his post as Councilor had and will cause !

The foremost reason offered for his continuation as Councilor is that : being Chairperson of PORR (Penang Outer Ring Road)  appointed contractor he will have a critical role to play in the Council ! What role ? He want to be a developer -and a Councilor heading the development approval committee at the same time ! Is he not aware of a very serious conflict of interests involved ? 

Actually he said he knew when the issue first arosed a couple of years ago. He just said that he will leave the meeting when his projects come up for deliberation. However he is also the UMNO whip as well as the Chief BN Whip within the Council -so he can keep the COuncilors in line without being inside a meeting!

So the conflict of interests issue is still there. May be he thought that he could muscle himself through the same way as before viz to bring the PM cum UMNO's Penang Liasion Chief Pak Lah into the picture. Let's see !

The other reasons given are equally funny : 1 version has it that when he was declared bankcrupt the last time he was suspended for a brief period so his term had not run continuously for 4 years -something which will run foul of the 4-year term limit rule now in force in the Councils. Well anyone with a good memory will remember that at that time he said that the suspension of his Councilor position was invalid because he was not yet to appeal against the bankcruptcy judgement. He did get away from the bankcruptcy judgement within a brief time.

Another reason offered is : Ahmad is the heavy weight in Penang UMNO's politics -so his position in the MPPP will allow him to represent the views of his community/party in MPPP. Well -are there no others who can do a better job ? Can't Ahmad run as a Assemblyperson in the next election to perform the job ?

In any case to most Penangites the UMNO man has to choose to be a developer or a Councilor. No 2 ways about it.