Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng must take stern action and speed up investigation on the felling of trees and clearing of the area around Bukit Relau.

State Wanita MCA chairperson Tan Cheng Liang said the immediate investigation was crucial to determine the truth, and failure to do so would give a picture that the DAP which was leading the government in Penang was practicing cronyism.

She said that Lim must also explain to the Penang people about the hill clearing and tree felling in the area that was becoming of increasing concern.

"His (Lim's) delayed action on the issue had raised much doubts. As the chairman of the State Planning Committee, he must explain who had given the approval, whether he (Lim) or the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP).

"Furthermore, as chairman of the committee, he too had the power to carry out an investigation but why did he leave the investigation to the MPPP," she said in a statement today.

Last Saturday, the MPPP had disclosed the identity of the owners of the land around Bukit Relau, namely General Accomplishment Sdn Bhd (GASB) and Boon Siew Sdn Bhd (BSSB).

However, BSSB had said in its statement that the company was not involved in the clearing of trees around the hill area.

- Bernama