Penang state executive councillor Abdul Malik Kassim said that the organisers - Umno - of the 1Malaysia lunch event in honour of Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin have broken the law by blocking usage of a road in Batu Maung.

NONE Abdul Malik ( centre in photo ) said Batu Maung residents were concerned that the road to their villages and homes may be blocked for several days due to the road closure in preparation for Muhyiddin’s visit today.

He added that the event could inconvenience about 20 blocks of apartments and houses involving thousands of residents, as well as the livehood of Malay pasar malam traders along Lembah Batu Maung whose businesses were affected on Sunday and Tuesday.

He stressed that upon receiving  complaints, he rushed to investigate the matter and found that the issues raised by the residents were valid.

NONE “I also discovered that the organisers of the event did not obtain the necessary permit from the local council to use the road to set up canopies,” said Abdul Malik during a press conference yesterday.

“Their act was against the law - Section 46 of the Road, Drainage and Building Act and the local council’s by-laws - which involve the building of structures along the road,” he added.

“They did not respect the law but more importantly, they did not care for the people of Batu Maung, who has suffered hardship and lost of livelihood due to their act,” said the constituency’s asssemblyperson.

Umno: Pakatan obstructed event

Yesterday, a verbal war broke out between the organisers and Pakatan leaders who visited the site in question.

NONE Bayan Baru Umno information chief Mohd Ridzwan Bakar complained that Pakatan leaders had come around to “obstruct the event, which made the people angry”.

He added that the event was planned on a federal road and using it merely needed the approval of the police, and a notification to the Works Department and local council.

Meanwhile, state exco member for public works, utility and transport Lim Hock Seng said that a road cannot be blockaded unless “it is an emergency”.

“This shows BN’s arrogance and irresponsibility. They refuse to comply with the law. Do not think that just because you have a new BN (state) chief, you can do whatever you like,” he told reporters.

“If they (BN) return to power, the situation will become worse,” warned the DAP Bagan Jermal assemblyperson.

‘Is this People First, Performance Now?’

Pantai Jerejak PKR assemblyperson Sim Tze Tzin lashed out at Umno for causing trouble to the residents which is not in line with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s 1Malaysia catchphrase - People First, Performance Now.

NONE He asked why did the organisers need several days to put up the tents, asking, “Does this mean performance now? It seems like incompetence.”

“I would like to ask the new BN state chief Teng Chang Yeow to explain the aggressive behaviour of Umno leaders on his Facebook page,” said Sim, referring to the “heated” arguments which have ensued on his social networking page.

However, when asked if action would be taken against the organisers, the Pakatan leaders said that it was up to the local council to decide.