Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has urged activists concerned over the fate of Pulau Jerejak to lobby Putrajaya-owned UDA Holdings who has a project on the island.

"Don't bark up the wrong tree," said Lim, in response to a public forum yesterday which dubbed the island as Malaysia's "Alcatraz".

The forum had resolved that the state government ought to impose a moratorium on any development plans for Pulau Jerejak.

He said that his administration was willing to facilitate a dialogue between activists and the developer.

"I am sure the developer is more than willing to answer your questions," Lim told Malaysiakini.

He stressed that the UDA Holdings project was inked when BN ruled Penang and that since 2008, his administration has not allowed any new developments on the island.

"We (now) have to honour the agreement signed between the developer and the previous government over the 80 acres which is slated for redevelopment.

"If the developer fulfils the requirements of the local authority, how are we to say no?" he asked.

He said the Penang government will not approve any new applications to develop Pulau Jerejak nor will any encroachment of forest reserve.

He reiterated that the forest reserve will be gazetted as a state park, after UDA submits its plan for redevelopment on the island.

Foreign critics should look at history

In 2001, the state government had sold 80 acres of land on a leasehold basis to Tropical Island Resort Sdn Bhd, a UDA Holdings-Penang Development Corporation (PDC) joint-venture.

By 2013, PDC sold its 49 percent stake in the company.

Lim said the issue of imposing a moratorium does not arise as the present state government did not allow projects on the island, which is located off the shore in Bayan Lepas.

On drawing a Special Area Plan for the island, Lim said he was awaiting the developer to submit the redevelopment plan for the current project.

Meanwhile, Lim also urged foreigners, who are concerned about Pulau Jerejak to understand the political history of the island.

"Don't just pin the blame on the current administration for the deed of the previous government.

"Some locals are like that, too, please remember what the previous government had done.

"Don't blame the son for the what the father had done," he quipped.