| Lip Eng hits back at mayor over budget row Posted: 02 Feb 2012 10:29 PM PST  Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/story/lip-eng-hits-back-mayor-over-budget-row (by Ikram Ismail, 2/2/2012)
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng (pic) has denied claims he did not show up at a public seminar organised by City Hall in mid-December to discuss details of expenditure for City Hall's 2012 budget. He was responding to a claim by KL mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail after Lim alleged City Hall had denied Kuala Lumpur MPs full details of how the council's RM2.3 billion budget was to be spent. Ahmad Fuad had claimed on Wednesday Lim should not make demands now as he had been given a chance to have his say but did not show up at the forum.
Lim hit back at the mayor, saying he was present at the seminar. "I was there in the afternoon until the seminar ended and the mayor should acknowledge my presence."
Ahmad Fuad had, in The Malay Mail report yesterday, claimed the only MPs who attended the function was Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and Batu MP Tian Chua.
Lim said he could not recall which other MPs attended the seminar. "I am just asking for basic treatment. The same type of treatment City Hall owes to other city folk. City Hall can ensure there is transparency by uploading the detailed budget on its website for public scrutiny."
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| Mayor says he has no hidden agenda behind City Hall's 2012 budget Posted: 02 Feb 2012 10:28 PM PST Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/story/mayor-says-he-has-no-hidden-agenda-behind-city-halls-2012-budget (by Azril Annuar, 1/2/2012)
KUALA LUMPUR: "What makes him so special?"
KL mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail today took a swipe at Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng after the latter alleged City Hall did not disclose the full details of the city's 2012 budget when it was unveiled last month.
Lim had earlier accused Ahmad Fuad of refusing to disclose full details of the the budget to the public and KL's members of Parliament. "We are KL's MPs who have debated the national budget in Parliament. So why can't we look at the detailed city budget?", Lim questioned. Lim claimed that during a meeting between several KL MPs and the mayor that was held prior to Chinese New Year, the MPs had asked for a copy of the budget. However, he said Ahmad Fuad refused to entertain their request and only allowed them to view the summarised hard copy version. Lim also accused Ahmad Fuad of not consulting with the public and the MPs before the budget was approved.
Responding to Lim's allegation, Ahmad Fuad said Lim failed to attend a seminar which was organised by City Hall last year despite being invited to attend.
Ahmad Fuad told The Malay Mail that the city council had engaged with around 200 to 300 citizens and consulted, explained and discussed the tentative budget and invitations were sent to "everyone including Lim". "We called for a seminar, we invited around 500 people and around 200 to 300 showed up. The only MPs who bothered to attend was Nurul Izzah (Lembah Pantai) and Tian Chua (Batu). So why is he bringing this up? Why am I being accused that I did not consult the public or the MP?
"He did not show up. He accused me of having an agenda? What agenda? I have to report to the Ministry (Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing ministry) and the prime minister.
He said that during the seminar, City Hall representatives explained to the public on how revenue for the city was generated and how the city plans on spending the budget allocated. Public concerns were also taken note of and it was included in the budget. Ahmad Fuad said his plate was full as City Hall has to be audited and there are procurement procedures which he has to oversee in addition to attending monthly meetings with the chief-secretary to the government.
"Why does he (Lim) want special treatment and have a 'special meeting' just for him when other concerned citizens can come to the seminar. We even advertised it. "Maybe he trusted us so much that he feels that KL is in good hands," Ahmad Fuad said.
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