The Penang Municipal Councillors have decided not to take legal action or move a motion against controversial Selangor MCA Beliawanis chief Jessie Ooi in its full council meeting today.

NONE Councillor L Prem Anand ( right ), however, addressed the council to condemn Ooi for disparaging the reputation of council workers over clamping and towing activities in Penang.

After the meeting, councillor Ong Ah Teong said the councillors have decided not to pursue taking action against Ooi.

“We prefer to focus on serving the people as Ooi continues to twist and turn her words and allegations,” he told reporters during a press conference attended by the councillors.

Ong said the councillors unanimously agreed to “spare her because we pity her” as she appears not to be aware of what she wants, when she made her allegations.

“Let the rakyat judge her attitude. We have decided not to waste public funds to initiate legal action against her,” he said.

“What we know is that this is MCA’s dirty tactics to undermine the Pakatan Rakyat government in Penang by implicating the MPPP,” he added.

“We accept criticisms and suggestions on how the MPPP can improve its services to benefit Penangites, but we would not accept slander and lies about our workers who work hard to ensure the city is in good shape,” he stressed.

NONE Ong said Ooi's behaviour has revealed a can of worms about the actual nature and character of MCA leaders, who tend to “lie and twist” their statements to mislead the people.

He added that the people must be cautious as these leaders would continue to “lie” to cover up their party’s misdeeds.

He stressed that the councillors would be able to preserve their dignity and integrity by not stooping so low as to impose further action on Ooi.

‘Possible backlash to their action’

It is learnt that the councillors decided not to antagonise Ooi further as there may be a backlash to their action, while Ooi may turn out looking like a victim of harassment.

Recently, the councillors condemned Ooi and vowed to take action against her if she fails to apologise or retract her statement during the recent debate between MCA president Chua Soi Lek and Penang CM Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur.

Ooi, who is Selayang BN coordinator, was given until today to recant or face action by the councillors.

Ooi became an overnight session after she posed questions to Lim during the debate with Chua on Feb 18, raising concerns over clamping and towing of cars illegally parked in Penang.

She has responded to scores of critics on the manner in which she posed her questions, crying harassment and voweingto take legal action on those who allegedly defamed her and her family on the Internet.

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