00:00Penang Chief Minister Chow Kwon-yaw told the High Court on Tuesday that he is committed
00:06to the state government's principles of competency, accountability and transparency
00:11or CAT in all business dealings.
00:15During a hearing on the defamation suit against him, Chow said when he was told about the
00:19proposed workers' dormitory at Silver Jubilee Home for the aged in Sungai Dua, he said the
00:25project must adhere to all due processes.
00:28Chow, who is the home's board chairman, had previously said that a workers' hostel would
00:33be built on the home's land without an open tender.
00:37He added that the home was not legally represented by any registered legal firms in a contract
00:42between the home and a company.
00:44During cross-examination, Chow replied that an open tender was a key component of CAT
00:50and he also agreed that his objection to the project was because of a lack of open tender
00:55and a need for separate legal representation to protect the home's interest.
01:01The home's former trustee Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping is suing Chow over alleged defamatory
01:06remarks related to Tan's resignation in December last year.
01:10When asked about a direct negotiation in the Penang Development Corporation land deal for
01:16the Batu Kawan Industrial Park 2 development, Chow explained that it was justified due to
01:21a lack of bidders after publicising the sale.
01:24Earlier, Chow's defence counsel told Tan that Chow's remarks were accurate and non-defamatory,
01:30but Tan disagreed.
01:32When asked whether it was reasonable for Chow to be concerned and to raise issues of public
01:36interests, Tan disagreed too.
01:39With the trial coming to a close, the court has set the date for decision on November 26.
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