MCA and DAP leaders rarely agree on anything, but DAP central committee member Dr Tan Seng Giaw's observation of Balik Pulau's diminishing greenery has struck a chord with Penang MCA chief Tan Teik Cheng.

"He hit the nail on the head and gave the Penang government a slap on the face," said Teik Cheng in a press release today.

He said that Penang's greenery had suffered since the reign of Lim Guan Eng as chief minister, who promised a cleaner and greener Penang, but hill clearings were still rampant.

"Does Lim think that such this will help raise the state's reputation?" Teik Cheng asked.

On Sunday, Seng Giaw wrote this message on his Facebook page: "Going around Penang island today, we find the coast is changing, and Balik Pulau is less green.

"The population of 850,000 require houses and employment. The priority is to preserve the forest and the greenery."

Teik Cheng empathised with Seng Giaw and said that Penang was suffering from over-development. He said that apart from vanishing greenery, the state was also losing its coastline.

Over-development had also resulted in frequent flood problems, he said.

"The state's Cleaner and Greener Penang slogan has now become a big joke," Teik Cheng quipped.