A PENANG state executive councillor has slammed Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders for blindly politicising the visit of two China Naval battleships to the state recently.
Paya Terubong assemblyman Wong Hon Wai, a senior state exco member, said that one of the ships took part in the search for the missing MH370 Boeing 777 airliner which went missing in 2014.
Wong said that the visit was within the protocol channels and PN leaders should have taken the initiative to learn more about the visit before slamming Penang.
He listed the Jinggang Shan (999) vessel, which docked at the Swettenham Cruise Pier, as part of a flotilla of 13 ships which China ordered to locate MH370.
Ship 999 is a Chinese amphibious transport dock ship of the Type 071 Yuzhao class.
It was launched in November 2010 and commissioned to the South Sea Fleet and it scouted both the South China Sea and later Indian Ocean in search of the ill-fated carrier.
The 999 was involved in the search and rescue efforts for 62 days, which covered 26,938 nautical miles.
Wong also pointed out that a US naval ship crew had even visited a school in Sabah in 2019.
Till today, MH370 remains the biggest mysteries of aviation history.
Wong said that he felt compelled to clear the air over the misconception which PN tried to portray over the visit.
"Perhaps, PN has party elections so each of their leaders is trying to become a champion of sorts but the protocol was followed and abided as far as I know," said Wong.
He added that the visit by the lecturers and students from the Naval University of Engineering China to Chung Ling Private High School in Air Itam was under protocol.
Wong, who oversees the tourism and creative economy portfolios, was on hand to greet the China delegation as Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow is on leave.
Chow is visiting the United States until later this month.
Wong clarified that the state government was not the organiser of the cultural exchange.
“The event was organised by the Consulate General of China in Penang, and the state was merely an invited guest, along with others. The entire arrangement was mediated by the Consulate General, and the state had no involvement in its organisation,” he said after launching a Nyonya Kebaya fashion show at the OCBC Premier Banking offices.
China's ships - Qi Jiguang and Jinggang Shan docked in Penang last Saturday as part of a visit aimed at enhancing ties between the naval forces of China and Malaysia.
The ships docked in Penang port for three days before departing for Bangladesh.
Addressing claims that the students at the school were flagging China’s flags, Wong noted the school has a total enrolment of 1,900 students, with more than 30 of them being Chinese citizens.
“There was also a group photograph of the students waving the Jalur Gemilang,” he added, expressing his hope the issue would not be prolonged further.
Also present were state Social Development, Welfare and Non-Religious Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim and Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng. - October 12, 2024.
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