Media Statement by Nicholas Theng (MBPP Councillor and Chief of DAPSY Jelutong), dated 18th May 2021:
MCA is constantly spreading lies! Stop politicising public health and safety for political mileage!
I’m writing this statement in response to a video by MCA Penang regarding the new chicken guidelines and chicken distribution centre. MCA is lying to Penangnites and should stop politicising a public health policy for political mileage!
1) In the video, MCA lied openly by stating that chicken sellers can only purchase their chickens from private companies that are selected by MBPP, thus creating a monopoly. This is a lie that MBPP and the State Government has addressed over and over again. The chicken sellers are free to purchase from any supplier they want. MBPP has never forced the chicken sellers to buy from anyone.
2) MCA has also lied by saying that MBPP has not had any meetings with the stakeholders or responded to their memorandum that they submitted. MBPP had meetings with all chicken sellers in all markets since September 2020. There was also a meeting between Datuk Bandar and the representatives of Gabungan Peniaga-Peniaga Ayam Pulau Pinang on the 4th of February 2021. It is ridiculous for MCA to accuse MBPP of not meeting any stakeholders.
3) MCA has alleged that there was no open tender for the building of the chicken distribution centre. This is again a lie that MBPP has released many statements to clarify over and over again. The chicken distribution centre was awarded through MBPP’s open tender process. It was done twice, once in 2018 and another in 2019. Both tenders were publicized through MBPP’s e-perolehan website and newspapers.
4) Markets in advanced countries are moving towards this direction of providing more hygienic markets for the public, this is even more urgent in light of Covid-19.
5) MBPP is helping the chicken sellers to adhere to these requirements by providing RM1,000 rebate in terms of rental and licensing fees to subsidise for the purchase of the chillers. Moreover, all the renovation costs to accommodate the chillers are borne by MBPP.
6) The policy to stop slaughtering of chickens and ducks in markets is not new. It was introduced in 1991, 2006 and again in 2014. MBSP had banned the slaughtering in markets since 1991. In 2014, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government issued a nationwide order to all local councils to ban slaughtering in markets. MCA was in the Federal Government at the time.
All of these issues have been answered again and again by MBPP and the State Government in past press conferences and statements, yet MCA continues to politicise and spread false news about it to confuse Penangnites. It is despicable for MCA to use cheap political tactics on a public health policy for political mileage. Instead, they should work together with the State Government to see how we can further help keep Penang safe and healthy, especially so in light of Covid-19.
马华撒谎成性！为政治利益忽视公共卫生安全。
我的這篇文告是为了回应槟州马华公会上载的，有关鸡肉指南及鸡肉分销中心的影片。马华对槟城人撒谎，并且应该停止政治化公共卫生政策来获取政治利益！
1）在影片中，马华公然公开宣称鸡肉摊贩只能向槟岛市政厅选择的私营公司购买鸡肉，从而造成了垄断。这是槟岛市政厅及州政府一次又一次澄清的谎言。鸡贩可以自由地向他们想要的任何供应商购买鸡肉。槟岛市政厅从未强迫鸡贩向任何人购买。
2）马华公会也撒谎，指槟岛市政厅没有与利益相关者举行任何会议或对他们提交的备忘录做出回应。然而，自2020年9月以来，槟岛市政厅就与市面上所有鸡肉摊贩会面並举行会议。市长与槟州鸡贩协会的代表也在2021年2月4日举行了会议。马华公会指控槟岛市政厅没有与任何利益相关者见面是很荒谬的。
3）马华公会声称，鸡肉分销中心的建造过程没有经过公开招标。槟岛市政厅也已经反复多次发表文告澄清此事，鸡肉分销中心的工程是通过市政厅的公开招标程序获得的。该招标程序共进行了两次，一次是在2018年，一次是在2019年。这两个招标都是通过槟岛市政厅的e-perolehan网站和报纸刊登公告。
4）发达国家的传统菜市场正朝着打造更加卫生的菜市场环境的方向发展，而且在新冠肺炎疫情期间，这一项改革是更加迫切。
5）槟岛市政厅通过提供1000令吉的租金和执照费回扣的方式，以补贴鸡贩购买冷藏柜的费用，从而帮助鸡贩遵守改革要求。此外，安装冷藏柜的所有翻新费用均由槟岛市政厅承担。
6）禁止在菜市场内宰杀鸡鸭并非新政策。它早在1991年，2006年以及2014年多次推行。威省市政厅在1991年便禁止在市场宰杀。2014年，房屋及地方政府部向全国所有地方政府发布了禁令，禁止市场宰杀的行为。 马华公会当时就是联邦政府成员。
在过去的新闻发布会和文告中，槟岛市政厅和州政府一次又一次地回答了所有这些问题，但马华依然继续将其政治化和散布虚假消息来混淆槟城人民。马华公会在公共卫生政策上使用廉价的政治手段来获取政治利益的手法是可耻的。相反，他们应该与州政府合作，携手帮助进一步保持槟城的安全和健康，尤其是新冠肺炎期间。
邓智伟
槟岛市政厅市议员
槟州行动党社青团日落洞区团团长