SHAH ALAM, 16 Dec: The Executive Councillor in charge of Local Government, Studies and Research, Datuk Teng Chang Khim, criticised today’s first page news in Utusan which misquoted his statement wrongly and was terribly deviated from the real statement.

Chang Khim said that he is disappointed with the Utusan report which made it seem like he was criticising the Selangor State Government which often uses the populist approach.

Chang Khim explained that his winding up speech yesterday touched on the call for the State Government to tidy up existing programmes to educate the people in increasing their capability and ability.

“For example, the Free Tuition Programme should be expanded because it educated the people well. We, as a good government, should not only provide welfare to the people, but we need to have policies and good management for the future of our people.

“That is what I meant by teaching the people to ‘fish’, and not just provide fish,” said Chang Khim.

He said this in a press conference to comment on the first page news in Utusan today, which claimed that in his winding up speech at the DAP Convention yesterday, he urged the State Government to no longer continue populist policies after entering the second term of administration in Selangor.

Chang Khim also disputed allegations by Utusan that he is disappointed with the State Government’s actions of allowing only four to 10 percent of the budget to be given to local authorities for the purpose of development, in order to implement populist programmes.

“I mentioned the amount to state that local authorities need to find other sources of income and I did not, at all, say that existing programmes should be stopped,” said Chang Khim.

In relation to that, Chang Khim asked Utusan to correct all allegations made so that the public will not be confused with the statement made.

“I am a practical person. Utusan only needs to apologise and correct the statement. That is all,” he added.