Gerakan man turns down Pakatan offer to join panel

Lai Chiew Hock turned down the offer to be vice-chairman of the 6th Club Crew World Championships (CCWC) committee

GEORGE TOWN: A former Gerakan state assemblyman has declined an offer by the Pakatan Rakyat state government to be vice-chairman of a committee organising an international dragon boat race here.

Lai Chew Hock, ex-assemblyman for Bukit Tambun, has informed his party secretary-general, Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye, of his decision.

He had turned down the offer to be vice-chairman of the 6th Club Crew World Championships (CCWC) committee.

Chia said the party's central working committee had taken note of the fact that Lai was chairman of the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival under the previous state government.

He held the post from 2004 to early this year and had been actively involved in making the bid and arranging for the 2008 CCWC to be held in Penang.
Chia said the Gerakan CWC had also taken note that Lai was currently the elected chairman of the Penang Dragon Boat Association and the deputy chairman of the Asian Dragon Boat Federation, both of which are non-governmental organisations.

"In these two capacities, Lai can participate and assist in events and activities related to dragon boats on behalf of the organisations.

"These may include the CCWC or other dragon boat events organised by international bodies, the federal or state governments or the private sector," Chia said in a statement yesterday.

However, he said Lai could not take part in any other official position or appointment in any government committee or agency under the Pakatan Rakyat state government.