Pengerang MP Azalina Othman today ticked off those who complained about the relocation of graves in Pengerang that resulted in remains allegedly being unearthed and lying around for not attending meetings convened to address the matter.

NONE "This is not the Wild Wild West, where you dig up a body and throw it to the side of the road. No one in Pengerang will allow that to happen," Azalina ( seated centre ) told a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

She said there existed a committee chaired by the district officer at which all such matters are discussed and the complainants should have gone to that forum to air their grievances.

"NGOs that complained of things such as destroyed headstones and unearthed bodies are not being fair because they were not present at the meeting. Those who attended are representatives from the local communities.

"If the representatives (of the NGOs) did not attend the meeting, then the district office or state government cannot be blamed," Azalina said.

'No such thing ever occurred'

The former youth and sports minister also said that based on her own observations and by the  local people in the area in contact with her, no such thing ever occurred.

"My ketua kampung said there was no such thing, I never saw it. You can't say that we are lying because we are always there."

NONE Several members of NGOs from Pengerang that made the claims about the grave relocation were also present and they shot questions at Azalina.

However, the Pengerang MP said she reserved the right not to reply to their questions, but would be happy to entertain them to coffee if they were to come to her constituency office.

Members of the NGOs continued to gather around her, but Azalina simply walked out of the lobby and left.

Earlier, the members held a press conference in the Parliament lobby to highlight their concerns over the relocation of graves for the multi-billion ringgit Pengerang petrochemical and gas refinery and terminal project.

They also brought a little girl with them, dressed as a "angry lobster", as their mascot. Lobster fishing is one of the local industries that would come under threat from the development of the refinery and terminal.

Azalina poked fun at the mascot, saying it was a misrepresentation because the lobster industry was not yet affected. Jokingly, she also asked the NGO members why no one was dressed as a fish, since the fishing industry would also be affected.