The action of several PKR assemblymen in questioning the rationale of the implementation of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) heated up the state legislative assembly sitting yesterday.
A commotion almost broke out when Cheah Kah Peng (PKR-Kebun Bunga) refused to allow Phee Boon Poh (DAP-Sungai Puyu) to interject his emotional debate on the project report, which has yet to be tabled to the state assembly.
Cheah said it was important for the state government to submit a complete report on the project in the principle of ‘freedom of information’ and ‘natural justice’.
“At this stage, the report from the project delivery partner has yet to be made public. Generally speaking, it was impossible for the people in Penang and the stakeholders to study the project and to find out what the future is like for us in regards to PTMP,” he said.
Yap Soo Huey (DAP-Pulau Tikus), when he interjected Cheah’s debate, said he was not sure what Cheah meant as the project was still in the feasibility study stage and the Environment Impact Assessment report was still being prepared.
“So, there is no report to be given to anyone right now,” Yap said.
Cheah then strongly argued that at the last sitting (November 2015), he was told that the report would be tabled at during this sitting and that he was dissatisfied to know that the land reclamation work for the project had begun even before the report was completed.
To pacify the assemblypersons, speaker Law Choo Kiang explained that the state assembly had not received any report from the Public Accounts Committee regarding the matter and asked all assemblypersons to remain calm and not to get emotional during the debate.
Dr Norlela Ariffin (PKR-Penanti) also questioned the rationale for the state government to carry out land reclamation work merely to raise fund for the implementation of the PTMP.
She said if the land reclamation work was carried out, it would definitely bring about great negative implication to over 1,000 fishermen who would lose their source of income.
Earlier, the issue of land clearing and mitigation work in Bukit Relau also became the hot topic of debates among the assemblypersons.
Sahriful Azhar Othman (BN-Bertam) said the size of land cleared for the mitigation work three years ago was only around eight hectares, but the current size of land affected by the work had reached up to 20 hectares.
“One can easily concluded that the mitigation work is actually a permanent land clearing activity,” he chided.
Muhammad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong) also questioned the cost for the mitigation work, which had reached RM20 million, which he claimed very costly.
“This would raise questions whether there are other elements involved which had caused it to be very costly,” he said.
Nordin Ahmad (BN-Bayan Lepas) also urged the state government to explain the land clearing cases in Bukit Relau, as well as in Sungai Ara and Bukit Bendera.
The sitting continues today.
- Bernama
