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No. 4496 PP 2644/12/2008 (020369)

Monday
April 21, 2008
TELLING IT AS IT IS www.sun2surf.com

» Iraqi cleric warns of open war pg12 » Plucking a Latin beat pg24 Entertainment

You pay
by Opalyn Mok
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PENANG: It was a day of

firsts yesterday:
» Former Health
Ministry parliamentary
secretary Datuk Lee Kah
Choon, who could have
Day of firsts
» PENANG: FORMER PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY
ACCEPTS POST FROM PAKATAN GOVT
– even if you
don’t use ERL
by Terence Fernandez
and R. Nadeswaran
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Passengers who fly

off from Sepang have been paying
an additional RM2 to RM6 in airport
been chief minister had tax for the last six years – no thanks
Barisan Nasional retained
Penang, was appointed
a director of the Penang
» SELANGOR: NON-MALAY SPEAKER IN CHANG KHIM to a lopsided deal between the
government and Express Rail Link
Sdn Bhd (ERLSB) which operates the
Development Corporation
(PDC) and executive » SELANGOR: WOMAN DEPUTY SPEAKER IN HANIZA Express Rail Link (ERL).
The KLIA Express connects KL
committee chairman of Sentral and KL International Airport.
InvestPenang – PDC’s few days to accept the offer and even “reported been in the running as one of three potential According to sources, under the
investment arm. for work” at InvestPenang last Friday. successors to former chief minister Tan Sri Dr terms of agreement for the RM2.8
Lee (top pic) is the first Asked if he had any regrets about his Koh Tsu Koon. billion ERL project, a portion of the
opposition member to sit decision which could mean an end to his Earlier, Lim said the state executive council airport taxes that departing pas-
on the boards of the state political career in Gerakan, Lee said he had approved the appointments on Wednesday. sengers pay goes to the company
economic development none. “I do not know what I will do in future, “We feel that Lee can support the state – RM2 for domestic passengers and
corporation and its but for now, I am only hoping to contribute government in pushing the economic RM6 for international travellers from
subsidiary. towards the development of Penang,” he said. development of the state,” he said, adding KLIA as well as the Low Cost Carrier
» In Selangor, Teng Asked if this decision was a tough one to that the state government welcomed anyone Terminal (LCCT).
Chang Khim (middle pic) make, Lee said if he had stuck to partisan who was sincere about helping the state It is learnt that the rationale
was proposed as the first politics, he would be a very difficult decision, government, regardless of religion, race or behind the concession agreement
non-Malay speaker of the but since he had resigned from all posts, it was political background. signed in 1997 is to ensure a return
state assembly and Haniza an easy decision. “This is just another stage in Lim also announced that Datuk Ho Mooi on investment for the service which
Talha as first woman my life, and I do not regret leaving my political Ching was retained as state Appeals Board started in 2002.
deputy speaker (page 2). life behind me,” said Lee, who contested for the chairman and Tan Sri Khalid Ahmad Sulaiman YTL Corporation holds a 50%-
Describing his decision Machang Bubuk state seat on March 8 and had as its vice-chairman. stake in ERLSB, which is responsible
to accept the posts as for building and operating the
XINHUA PIX

“non-political” but a way to contribute towards high-speed rail link. Tabung Haji
Penang’s development, Lee said he could Technologies Sdn Bhd holds 40%
provide “check and balance” from within the and Nadicorp Holdings Sdn Bhd the
system, instead of outside. remaining 10%.
Speaking after a press conference by Chief ERLSB operates under a 30-year
Minister Lim Guan Eng, who announced his concession, including an option to
appointments, the former Jelutong MP and extend for another 30 years to own
Gerakan deputy secretary-general, stressed and operate the express rail link. The
that he was still a Gerakan member. ERL faces competition from other
“I am taking this position only because I public transport operators due to its
believe I can contribute as an ordinary citizen fare of RM35 for a one-way trip.
towards Penang’s development,” he said, Airport tax for KLIA is RM45 for
adding that his position at InvestPenang was international travellers and domes-
part-time and voluntary. tic passengers pay RM6. Airport
Asked if his party will take any action tax for departures from the LCCT
against him for accepting the posts from a is RM6 for domestic and RM35 for
Pakatan Rakyat government, Lee said it should international passengers.
not be an issue as he had withdrawn from KLIA handled about 25 million
politics. He quit from all Gerakan posts at the passengers last year and the LCCT
end of last month. about eight million. “Half of these
“As far as I am concerned, politics is history figures were departing passengers,
for me, and I make this decision as an ordinary which means ERL would be receiving
citizen,” he said. in the region of RM80 million a year
“I can be a voice within the state
government. Check and balance need not be
Olympic spirit ... The flame of the 2008 Beijing Olympics is received by Olympic Council (from airport tax),” said a source.
of Malaysia deputy president Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan and Datuk Sieh Kok Chee (far right), honorary
outside but from within,” said Lee who was secretary of OCM, at KLIA early yesterday. It was brought by Jiang Xiaoyu, vice-president of the games
» Citizen Nades comments
offered the positions a week ago. He took just a on page 14
organising committee, from Bangkok. The torch relay starts from Dataran Merdeka this afternoon.