PENANG DAP has made the first step to mend the relationship with the high-powered state Chinese Chamber of Commerce after its lifetime advisor Tan Sri Tan Kok Pin was involved in a squabble with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow last year.
The party was led by its newly appointed state liaison chairman Steven Sim Chee Keong, who is also the Human Resources Minister for the meeting.
Sim met with the chamber's president Datuk Seri Choot Ewe Seng and his committee at the chamber's office yesterday afternoon.
Chow is currently involved in a legal dispute with Tan in the High Court over the controversial land deal at the Batu Kawan Free Industrial Zone III.
The court is scheduled to reach a decision next month in a libel suit filed by the former.
In a statement released by the state DAP publicity head Joshua Woo Sze Zeng, Sim and Choot discussed the new minimum wage, upskilling of workers, the national Budget 2025 and collaboration opportunities between the state and the private sector.
Among those present were Sim's deputy Ramkarpal Singh Deo, the Bukit Gelugor MP, vice-chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin, committee members Phee Boon Chee, Lee Wei Seang, Datuk Soon Lip Chee, Sungai Puyu assemblyperson Phee Syn Tze, Rachel Chuann Yen, Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo, Foo Yu Keong and Ooi Yong Wooi.
Sim also said that the state DAP leadership plans to improve its relationship with the private sector, namely non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with Ramkarpal, Yeoh and state executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari appointed to head the initiative.
"We also hope to channel the views generated from the NGOs to the top party leadership. This two-way relationship can foster a closer relationship with the community activists," said Sim.
Choot also hailed the effort by the Penang DAP, saying that the effort was timely given the recent tabling of the national fiscal Budget and it also allowed the chamber to understand the latest government policies at work.
The chamber is the first NGO that the new DAP leadership line-up has visited.
Sim has taken over the state DAP leadership from Chow, who had reigned for 25 - years before he decided to step down two months ago to make way for new blood.
The chambers mostly consist of developers, traders, entrepreneurs, fund managers and corporate leaders and it is at times critical of the government of the day, especially when the business level in the state is said to be sluggish rather than prosperous.
Before DAP took over Penang in 2008, which some quarters have attributed to Tan's help, the chamber was seen to be at odds with the Gerakan-led state government, which led the state from 1969 until it was voted out 39 - years later. - October 27, 2024.
