Conditions imposed by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on relocation efforts for Kampung Rumah Hijau residents was a form of blackmail, said Penang MCA.

pg mca deputy chief lau cheik tuan Its secretary Lau Chiek Tuan said Lim's conditions to Putrajaya had put politics above the welfare of his constituents.

"Is this a tactic by DAP and Lim whereby the people's welfare is pawned and used to hold the federal government to ransom?" asked Lau.

The Penang government had blamed the plight of Kampung Rumah Hijau residents on the previous administration, who sold the land where the village sits to a developer.

Lim had previously said that the Penang government can break the contract should Umno compensate the developer RM15 million.

The Penang government had previously tried to persuade Kampung Rumah Hijau residents to take up offers to move into the Ampang Jajar apartments, with moderate success.

Meanwhile, Lau also accused Lim of favouring mega-projects over low-cost housing which the state sorely needs.

"The fact that the DAP state government had not built any low cost housing from 2008 to 2010 despite having 152,702 low-cost housing applicants as pointed out in the Auditor General’s Report 2010 proves the DAP’s insincerity.

"While millions are spent on mega projects, affordable housing remains an unreachable dream for Penangites," he said.

He said that if Lim was indeed sincere, he should ensure more low-cost housing was built and not make any demands for federal government aid.

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