Speaker rejects motion to debate on controversial Penang road project
Penang state assembly speaker Yahya Abdul Hamid today rejected an emergency motion to discuss the controversial alignment of the Penang Outer Ring Road project (PORR).
Yahya denied the motion tabled by Abdul Rahman Abdul Kadir (Keadilan-Penanti) on the ground that the initiator of the project, Malaysian Highway Authority, must be given an opportunity to clarify the details.
Yahya said exhibits on the project are now being displayed in the Caring Society Complex and residents who are affected can give their feedback as viewing period has also been extended from seven days to a month.
"It is an important issue as it concerns many people but the matter has been raised for about an hour yesterday (in the state assembly) but there was no response from anyone," Yahya told the Dewan, which started yesterday.
In the dark
The PORR project, revealed on Saturday by MHA, has been hotly debated in recent months, causing public outcry as more residents fear eviction from their homes.
About 176 structures, including private homes, shops, temples, holy shrines, horse stables and graves, are expected to make way for the project, initiated by the federal government.
Residents are still in the dark about the social and environmental impact of the highway that is set to change the face of the island, cutting through residential neighbourhoods and running over steep hills and reclaimed land.
Earlier, while tabling the motion, Rahman said PORR is a definite matter of urgent public importance and even though the viewing period for the project exhibit has been extended, without a proper environmental assessment report made available to the public, the whole exhibition is a farce.
He said the state government has a duty and responsibility to ensure that the PORR project will be carried out without infringing on the people's rights and that there is no abuse under the 1960 Land Acquisition Act which permits land to be taken forcefully when it is gazetted as a "development area".
"Financial assistance given by the state government in respect of the project, directly and indirectly, given generally and in particular to the contractors, Peninsular Metroworks, must be fully disclosed," Rahman said.
"In view of the financial assistance given, the authorities ought to give an assurance that no toll shall be levied for the usage of the road upon its completion," he added.
Rahman urged the federal and state government to be fully transparent and accountable in the implementation of the project. He also wanted assurance that members of the board of directors of the construction company are clean and above board.
No support
Meanwhile, Keadilan Penang deputy chairperson Cheah Kah Peng who was observing the state assembly session this morning said he was disappointed that the speaker had rejected the motion as the issue was of public interest and was expected to affect thousands of people.
But Cheah said he was more distressed by the fact that no other state assembly representative supported Rahman's motion.
"There is a standing order that says that a state assembly representative will be allowed to discuss his motion if 10 others supported him in the Dewan — but no one did, not even the SAs for Bukit Gelugor, Kebun Bunga and Air Itam — whose constituencies will be affected by the project," he lamented.
"Why are they afraid to discuss this matter? Are they afraid of the truth (that would be revealed if the matter were brought up in the Dewan)?" queried Cheah, who is a lawyer.
Although Lim Siew Cheong (Gerakan-Sungai Pinang) did not support Rahman in the Dewan, when he was outside it, he said residents who are affected by the highway project should be given compensation according to the current market value.
"It cannot be less or else people will be very unhappy. I am sure they don't mind sacrificing for the greater good but they must be compensated fairly," Lim told
malaysiakini .He said it was "a good sign" that non-governmental organisations in Penang are aggressively taking up the issue with the people.
'Confidence in the government'
"This means people have confidence in the government. When people send memorandums to the government, it is a good sign. If there are no responses (to government projects), it is very bad," Lim said.
"At least we know why they object. The state government should now start to dialogue with these people to understand their problems," he added.
Yesterday, Consumers Association of Penang, which is leading a campaign against the project, submitted a petition signed by 777 people to Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon.
The group demanded, among other issues, that the project be halted and a proper environmental assessment study be conducted to ensure the viability and safety of the massive road project.
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