GEORGE TOWN, Nov 25 – Penang DAP State Chairman and Exco for Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Chow Kon Yeow in his statement on Tuesday said that he feel disappointed to the five PKR State Assemblymen which have not explained why they have not stood by the Penang State Government in rejecting the Umno motion other than saying it was a vote of political conscience.
All these five PKR Assemblymen did not bother to take part in the debate to let their voices of conscience to be heard. Since the announcement of the implementation of the Penang Transport Masterplan through a financial model which included land swap and land reclamation, none of these five PKR Assemblymen have raised any objections with the State Government.
One of the five PKR Assemblymen, the Member for Kebun Bunga Cheah Kah Peng, was appointed a member of the Penang Transport Council. He attended a Council meeting on 1st October this year where the Project Delivery Partner, SRS Consortium delivered a Preliminary Concept Masterplan which included the proposed reclamation areas.
In the meantime, Cheah Kah Peng did not raised any objection about the proposed reclamation. While choosing not to debate or raise his concerns with the Penang State Government, the PKR Assemblyman for Bukit Tengah Ong Chin Wen instead decided to inform a party leader who agreed that they should cast the abstention vote because of the “prevailing political situation”.
“Meanwhile, Ong Chin Wen has not named the mysterious party leader or explained what was the prevailing political situation that make the abstention necessary. It is hurtful to have Assembly colleagues who do not trust the integrity of the Penang State Government to comply with all government requirements of Detailed Environment Impact Assessment and public hearing and scrutiny if the proposed reclamation is to be carried out,” said Chow in his statement.
“During the debate, I have also committed that the Penang State Government is prepared to do more than required by the laws by holding stakeholder engagement to allow for public input before any agreement is signed. We have also reassured the Assembly that no reclamation will ever take place if the Federal government withhold approval for the LRT project or the reclamation project,” he said.
In additional, other than saying that it was a vote of conscience and voting according to the party whip, Chow said these five PKR State Assemblymen have still not yet been able to explain themselves why they have chosen to abandon the Penang State Government.
