GEORGE TOWN: THE Penang government has denied that it practises double standard in its enforcement against business outlets.
State Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said there was no discrimination against outlet operators, following criticism from state Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Teng Chang Yeow over the local council’s action against a cafe owner last week.
On Dec 22, the authorities demolished Kaffa Cafe’s toilet extension at the Penang International Airport as it was deemed illegal.
“We treat every outlet equally and there is no double standard, be it licensed and unlicensed outlets. Every operator has to adhere to local council guidelines. The outlet’s (Kaffa Cafe) structure has hindered the five-foot way at the airport, so it had to be torn down,” Chow said here yesterday.
Cafe owner Datuk Patrick Ooi claimed that he had approval from Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to build the extension.
However, Chow said the structure was demolished because it was illegal. He dismissed any purported element of revenge against outlet operators as alleged by Teng.
BN has accused the state government of employing Mafia tactics in its administration.
Teng had said not only was the state government, particularly Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, petty and intolerant against those who criticised the administration, they were also vindictive and revengeful.
He said this was evident in action taken against the cafe owner’s three outlets after he criticised Lim recently for his attacks against several Chinese dailies.
A day before the enforcement action, a DAP city councillor had made a threatening posting in his Facebook page of a possible action against Ooi.
State Gerakan Youth had lodged a police report against the councillor for alleged abuse of power.
Last Friday, Ooi was issued two summonses — one for his Kaffa Cafe at the junction of King Street, China Street here, and the other in Juru, on the mainland. The summons for the former was because its potted plants were said to be attracting mosquitoes and rats, while the latter was for placing gas cylinders outside its premises.
