GEORGE TOWN – Allegations of corruption against a staffer of the Penang deputy chief minister’s office were borne out of jealousy against the individual, said P. Ramasamy.
In response, Ramasamy, when contacted by The Vibes for comments over the matter, said the issue had surfaced now out of jealousy against his staffer.
He said the special assistant, who quit his job previously in 2018, was a capable man in handling public issues and helped resolve the problems of the poor and underprivileged.
Ramasamy said he has yet to receive any formal complaints against the special assistant as he continues to visit the office in Komtar.
“He is very good at handling housing matters and especially in identifying applicants for the low-cost and affordable housing units, as they will be qualified and deserving people.
“He is also very enterprising and is doing well in his own business.
“If I need to take a new job, I prefer to employ him again, unlike the complainants, who were untrustworthy and have character problems,” he said.
He said he had sacked them because they were “not qualified to be my office staff”.
“Why submit a memorandum to the chief minister on the matter if there is sufficient evidence?
“Let police and MACC investigate. At the same time, why join forces with M. Muruges and seek cheap publicity instead?”
Ramasamy’s response comes after two of his former employees had alleged that his staffer was demanding money from low-cost and affordable housing units applicants in Penang.
Ramasamy’s former personal assistant K. Elemperu Valuthi and his former driver U. Thava Kumar handed over a memorandum to a representative of Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow at Komtar, here, today.
During the subsequent press conference, Elemperu said he had quit his job as Ramasamy’s personal assistant, as he was unable to accept the alleged malpractices of the then special assistant, who was demanding money from applicants vying to get either low-cost or affordable housing units in Penang.
“I quit my job in 2019, as I could no longer accept and tolerate the wrongdoings of Ramasamy’s special assistant.
“I sent a letter to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stating the malpractices of the special assistant in 2019 after I quit my job.
“However, there has been no action against the said individual over the matter,” he had said.
It is learnt that the individual involved was serving in Ramasamy’s office as his special assistant before quitting the post.
However, it is learnt that he has since resumed his services at the same office in a different position. – The Vibes, March 9, 2022
