I refer to Lau Bing’s statement entitled ‘What Penang should do to alleviate floods in the state’ published in Malaysiakini on Nov 7, 2016 where I do want to clear up some inaccuracies that might create the wrong perception for Malaysians.

You mentioned that: “The relevant heads of the local authorities in Penang should issue a directive to all responsible officers involved in flood control in the state to immediately stop raping the natural landscapes, forest, highlands and hills.”

I believe that the above statement is very misleading and unfair as the Penang state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has never and will never ever allow any responsible officers involved in flood control in the state nor anyone else to simply cut down trees or as you put it, “rape” any natural landscapes, forests, highlands and hills. Your choice of words is extremely questionable.

You also said that: “Besides, big trees have strong big roots to hold the soil/earth together and firmly. As a result, it prevents soil erosion or landslides from occurring during a rainstorm.”

For your information, there were landslides in Teluk Bahang in an area where currently there are no projects going on. How is that so? Did you for a minute ponder on the fact that it could be because there was an exceptionally high amount of rainfall that quickly overwhelmed existing infrastructure and even natural landscapes?

Just because Malaysia has been spared many different types of natural disasters does not mean it will never happen. In fact, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and all members of the state administration have been working tirelessly around the clock for future disaster preventions.

Chow Kon Yeow, Penang state exco member for Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation mentioned today that: “Rainfall above 60mm is categorised as heavy rain. Rainfall between 11mm to 30mm is categorised as moderate. The rain fell for four hours non-stop between 2.30 am to 7.45 am this morning. The recorded rainfall at seven locations on the Penang Island were between 41mm to 105mm.”

This shows that the rainfall was exceptionally and unusually heavy as mentioned above and can therefore be classified as a natural disaster.

I would also like to emphasise that the Penang state government as well as the local councils have and will always try to improve our infrastructure without harming trees.

We do this at our own initiative as a an administration that has promoted “Cleaner, Greener, Safer and Healthier Penang” that has initiated various policies such the implementation of the “No Free Plastic Bags” ruling for all supermarkets and departmental stores to reduce the use of plastic bags as well as the ban of polysterene boxes and shark-fins served at government functions.

Penang also has no-smoking areas, car-free days, bicycle lanes and most important of all, the highest recycling rate in Malaysia of 32 percent that far exceeds the national target of 22 percent recycling rate by 2020.

‘Criticised and chided’

Through these initiatives, we have often been criticised and chided by individuals and businesses that are resistant to change but we have always held our ground when it came down to Mother Nature. The fact of the matter is, Penang led the way when it came down to implementing environmentally-friendly policies and the other states are taking steps to fully emulate Penang’s moves.

In closing, I do not know where your perception of the Penang state government being so irresponsible came from, perhaps you have been reading reports published by the Penang Forum which often criticises the Penang state government with unfounded wild allegations but hardly provides any credible alternatives.

If you really want to help, you can join the Penang state government in pressing the federal government to continue and complete the RM 350 million Sungai Pinang flood mitigation works. The Penang state government is already allocating RM 665,000 for immediate mitigation works, it is time for the federal government to fulfill their responsibility to Penangites as well.

CHRIS LEE CHUN KIT is a city councillor with the Penang Island City Council (Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang) representing the DAP.