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GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA: Twenty-two Penang island municipal councillors have gathered at the Town Hall here to refute media reports that one of them had brought a prostitute back to his hotel room during a recent working visit to Singapore.
They issued a joint statement to deny the allegation, which was reported in three Chinese dailies.
According to a China Press report on Saturday, the councillors were in the republic from Oct 4 to Oct 7 to discuss issues with Singaporean officials about cleanliness, infrastructure, public transport and hawkers.
Council secretary Ang Aing Thye led the delegation comprising council officers and councillors, including two women.
The Chinese daily reported in its street edition that several delegation members indulged in fun activities, adding that a councillor brought back a prostitute to his hotel room while two others went to a night club to watch dances by sexy girls.
Spokesman Lim Boo Chang described the reports as "outrageous and libellous".
"The reports have lowered the esteem of the councillors in the eyes of the general public," he told a press conference.
He said the councillors want China Press to publish, within 24 hours, a statement to retract the report and to apologise to them.
"We remind other newspapers not to repeat the defamatory statements made by China Press as they may also face legal consequences," he said.
Asked if it was true that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had met the councillors on Saturday night over the issue, Boo Chang replied by saying: "Who told you that?"
When newsmen said they were just seeking clarification, he said: "I have no knowledge of what you are asking."
In its morning edition yesterday, China Press reported that Guan Eng held a meeting with the councillors.
The two councillors not present at the gathering yesterday were Ramlah Bee Asiahoo - who was away in Kuala Lumpur but supported the protest against the media - and Lim Kah Cheng who did not go on the trip.
They issued a joint statement to deny the allegation, which was reported in three Chinese dailies.
According to a China Press report on Saturday, the councillors were in the republic from Oct 4 to Oct 7 to discuss issues with Singaporean officials about cleanliness, infrastructure, public transport and hawkers.
Council secretary Ang Aing Thye led the delegation comprising council officers and councillors, including two women.
The Chinese daily reported in its street edition that several delegation members indulged in fun activities, adding that a councillor brought back a prostitute to his hotel room while two others went to a night club to watch dances by sexy girls.
Spokesman Lim Boo Chang described the reports as "outrageous and libellous".
"The reports have lowered the esteem of the councillors in the eyes of the general public," he told a press conference.
He said the councillors want China Press to publish, within 24 hours, a statement to retract the report and to apologise to them.
"We remind other newspapers not to repeat the defamatory statements made by China Press as they may also face legal consequences," he said.
Asked if it was true that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had met the councillors on Saturday night over the issue, Boo Chang replied by saying: "Who told you that?"
When newsmen said they were just seeking clarification, he said: "I have no knowledge of what you are asking."
In its morning edition yesterday, China Press reported that Guan Eng held a meeting with the councillors.
The two councillors not present at the gathering yesterday were Ramlah Bee Asiahoo - who was away in Kuala Lumpur but supported the protest against the media - and Lim Kah Cheng who did not go on the trip.
