MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun is concerned that the “unrestrained” sale of land in Penang will compromise the people's future.
She referred to the 2016 auditor-general's report which revealed that the lion's share of the Penang state government's income was derived from the proceeds of selling state land and that the special land transfer fees rose 1,088.7 percent in a year.
She warned that if this continues, state lands in Penang would become increasingly scarce.
According to statistics, Chew said the state government had sold or transacted at least RM37 billion worth of state land, land rights and assets ever since DAP formed the state government in 2008.
She also noted that state exco Chow Kon Yeow had admitted that there was not much left with regards to sellable land in Penang.
“Penang has not much land in the first place. Selling land for revenue only shows the state government's lack of capability in sourcing for income.
“And when the government-owned lands grow scarce or even zero, the state government will also lose the flexibility to develop or utilise the lands according to the needs.
“The (Chief Minister) Lim Guan Eng-led Penang government is selfish and irresponsible in sacrificing the state's and people's future and long-term benefit for short-term populist politics,” she added in a media statement this morning.
The MCA leader is also concerned that the “uncontrolled and unmonitored” development in Penang would render the state prone to floods as seen from the 120 floods which hit the state from 2013 to this month, causing suffering to the people and possibly, future generations as well.
“Such actions by the Penang state government clearly go against the sacred Chinese teaching of 'the current generation sows for future generations to reap'.
“All these are the direct result of Guan Eng's love to brag and show off.
“Take his proposed under-sea tunnel as an example, the Penang state government not only spent a whopping RM305 million for the feasibility study but already handed over land worth at least RM220 million to the developer when the relevant report is still yet to be completed after years,” she added.
