ADUN SPEAKS | If Penang Forum, one of the NGO groups in the state, wants to have a serious dialogue with the Penang state government on issues relating to hillside development, then such a dialogue cannot be held at gunpoint.

In other words, members of the Penang Forum cannot wish to hold a dialogue and yet want the removal of the state government.

A strange “political” disease has afflicted some members of the civil society - especially those who are vocal about environmental issues in Penang.

While it is understandable for Penangites to be angry with the state government for the landslide tragedy, it is not reasonable for some NGO leaders to go overboard in attacking the state government on political lines.

For long these NGOs have been critical of the state government for not being stringent enough to disallow development projects in hillside areas.

These NGOs think that the existing guidelines imposed by government agencies and monitoring mechanisms are not sufficient for hillside areas from being encroached in the name of development. They want a complete embargo on developments at hillsides and sensitive areas in Penang.

Criticism by NGOs is valued

The role of NGOs is much appreciated in the process of attaining balance and sustainability in development. Even if state officials found it difficult to accept their criticisms, these criticisms are taken in good faith.

Unfortunately, the symbiosis between some environmental NGOs and the state government might not last too long.

Following the recent landslide tragedy, some of these NGOs have banded together, not only to criticise the state government for not doing enough to prevent the tragedy but have taken a giant political leap in calling for the removal of the chief minister and the entire state government for betraying the trust of the public.

They have warned that what happened to the former government would also happen to the present government in power. They have the temerity and arrogance to warn the Penang government for dereliction of duty towards Penangites.

Wittingly or unwittingly, these NGOs are arrogantly asking for a political change in the state due to the landslide that cost the lives of one Malaysian and 10 foreign workers. Although the Commission of Inquiry has yet to perform its duty, these NGOs have already reached the conclusion that the state government is guilty and have called for its removal.

If these NGOs are serious about wanting a regime change in Penang, then they should come out of their neutrality and comfort zones to form a political party or coalition to embark on a campaign to contest the coming election.

Perhaps they should seriously think of forming a pact with BN to vote out the Harapan government. Since there are common grounds between these NGOs and the BN component parties, a coalition will give them some form of formality.

P RAMASAMY is the Penang Deputy Chief Minister II and Perai assemblyperson.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.