Nga gets dressing down

By SYLVIA LOOI
sylvia@thestar.com.my

IPOH: Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming, who has been taken to task by several groups over a tailoring contract that implicated his wife, has now drawn flak from fellow party member M. Kulasegaran.

“Business and politics should not mix. One should not make money from politics,” Kulasegaran, who is DAP national vice-chairman and Ipoh Barat MP, said at a press conference here yesterday.

“In the party's best interest, Nga should clear the air over the matter,” he added.

Nga, the Taiping MP and Pantai Remis state assemblyman, is alleged to have given a lounge suit sewing contract to Ipoh company Ethan & Elton, of which his wife Wong Seow Ching is said to be a director.

Allegations on the Internet said the company was formed 42 days after Pakatan Rakyat took over the Perak government in 2008.

The lounge suits are meant for local government councillors.

At least three reports have been lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over Nga's alleged involvement in the contract.

Kulasegaran said the party's upcoming central executive committee meeting would discuss asset declaration among its representatives, commending Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who had ordered all 11 state exco members to declare their assets.

Kulasegaran suggested that spouses also be made to declare their wealth as there was public suspicion that one would hide his or her wealth behind the name of a spouse.

Meanwhile, Nga said in his blog that the accusations were made to smear his reputation and were slanderous, defamatory and irresponsible.

“I will fight tooth and nail to safeguard my good name and I have instructed my lawyer to take all necessary action, including filing a defamation suit against all parties concerned. Let the law take its course,” he said.

Nga recently raised a storm with his alleged racial slur and insulting remarks against Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and against the Perak royal institution by labelling the state “Perak Darul Kartun”.