GEORGE TOWN, Nov 25 – Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng defended his stance in criticising against the five PKR State Assemblymen who abstained from voting against a motion on land reclamation by Barisan Nasional (BN). Meanwhile, Lim also asked: “Would Lim Guan Eng be praised for permitting the Penang government to go bankrupt for paying compensation, so as to stop reclamation projects approved by the previous BN government that will only benefit BN cronies?”.
“I do not believe that I was elected to allow Penang to go bankrupt. I am willing to be condemned than praised to keep Penang free from bankruptcy with a healthy surplus for us to undertake investment in building public infrastructure, education and innovation,” he said in his statement here on Tuesday.
Lim said that the present Penang state government has undergone the bitter and painful experience of paying RM 14.7 million for the Tang Hak Ju land scandal incurred by BN and another RM20 million to Boustead Holdings Bhd for reducing the height of their hotel in George Town to 5 storeys from the 12 storeys approved by BN.
He said if the state was to stall any of the remaining reclamation projects approved by the previous government like the Tanjung Pinang land reclamation project by E&O Bhd, it could entail compensation costs of up to RM1 billion, which might bankrupt the state.
“In moving the motion against land reclamation, UMNO ADUN Muhammad Farid Saad did not apologise for being a part of the BN government before 2008, that approved 3,241 acres of land reclamation as compared to 60 acres by the present Pakatan Harapan(PH) state government,” said Lim.
“Neither did he offer full indemnity from the Federal government to pay back-to-back to the state government for making compensation payments for any cancellation of land reclamation projects by BN. What I find surprising is that some NGO activists, chose to support Farid’s motion and ignore the huge 3,241 acres of land reclamation approved by BN or the possible compensation payouts and lack of indemnity from the federal government,” he said.
“On the other part of Farid’s motion asking for comprehensive studies, such as Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) studies and conducting public consultation, is quite irrelevant because this is already a legal requirement contained in existing Federal laws. Failure to comply would simply mean that the land reclamation is not allowed to proceed,” he added.
The Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang had also been rejected the motion after 23 assemblymen voted against it, 10 supported and the PKR five abstained. PKR has 10 seats in the 40-seat State assembly. Out of the other PKR assemblymen, two were not present while the others voted “Nay”.
Teh Yee Cheu (DAP-Tanjung Bungah) has since apologised. The five PKR assemblymen who abstained were Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah); Dr Norlela Ariffin (Penanti); Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubuk); Cheah Kah Peng (Kebun Bunga) and Dr T.Jayabalan (Batu Uban). The Barisan Nasional, which rules at the federal level, is the opposition in Penang.
