Penang Gerakan wants state Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to answer how he loves Penang when he allowed reclamation on 131 acres of land on Gurney Drive.

Gurney Drive is an iconic beachfront, lined by popular hotels, shopping malls, and high-rise luxurious condominiums. The strip which faces the Penang channel has been gated since sea reclamation works begun last March, and Penangites have criticised the iron fencing as an eye-sore.

State Gerakan vice-chairman Oh Teong Keong said he had questioned Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, about the reclamation, but there is yet to be answer from the latter.

“We have been asking the state government to explain in detail, what is the use of the 131 acres of reclaimed land on Gurney Drive, but there is only silence so far.

“We wish to remind the CM that land here (in Penang) is not his, they do not belong to him, or his father, every plot of land belongs to the people of Penang,” Oh said.

Oh noted that in 2011, the state planning committee, chaired by Lim, had approved 131.09 acres of land to be reclaimed on Gurney Drive, as well as the erection of an artificial island (760 acres), which is dubbed Seri Tanjung Pinang 2 project.

Reclaimed area not for high rise development

On Feb 24 last year, Lim announced the Gurney Wharf project, where 60 acres (of the 131 acres) will be developed into an artificial beach, shop lots and green lung, by developers Eastern & Oriental Berhad.

There will also be a two-way, eight land highway, built to alleviate traffic congestion on the Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang paired road as well as Gurney Drive to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass.

The reclamation of the Gurney shorefront is expected to be completed by mid-2018.

State executive councillor in-charge of the project Lim Hock Seng had dismissed claims that the reclaimed area will be used for high-rise projects.

He said the reclaimed portion will only be for the eight-lane highway and recreational use (Gurney Wharf and the beach created after reclamation).

Meanwhile, Oh questioned Lim’s sincerity in launching the “I Love Penang” campaign when he does not listen to Penangites.

Lim announced the campaign following Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor’s proposal to federalise the state, and has challenged the latter to a public debate with him on the issue.

“The CM should listen and take seriously the voices of Penangites, but now he only wishes to response to ministers and not the people in the state governed by him,” Oh said.

Oh spoke to reporters at the Gurney Drive strip this morning where reclamation works by Eastern & Oriental Berhad is ongoing.

He said as a Penangite, he had raised and highlighted over 10 problems in several press conferences but they were not answered by the CM.

“He only chose to listen and respond to ministers. The CM of this DAP government used to thump his chest and say that he would listen to the people, but what has happened now?

“He only listens to Umno leaders and Umno ministers, what is the status of the Penangites?” Oh queried.