The Penang government has appointed several BN and NGO leaders into the 46-member Penang Transport Council (PTC), and one of its first tasks is to review key documents related to the much talked about state Transport Master Plan (TMP).

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng read out the names of the PTC members today, which included state opposition leader Jahara Hamid (BN-Teluk Ayer Tawar), Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah (BN-Teluk Bahang) and Nordin Ahmad (BN-Bayan Lepas).

Prominent activists appointed to the PTC are Consumers Association of Penang president SM Mohamed Idris, Penang Island City councillor Lim Mah Hui and popular blogger cum Aliran treasurer Anil Netto.

Mah Hui and Anil, who are members of the NGO Penang Forum, are vocal critics of the TMP.

It is learnt that Idris has yet to accept the offer, and is currently considering the appointment.

The PTC also includes Lim’s fiercest internal critic, Teh Yee Cheu (DAP-Tanjung Bungah), and the five PKR ‘rebels’ Cheah Kah Peng (PKR-Kebun Bunga), Norlela Ariffin (PKR-Penanti), Lee Khai Loon (PKR-Machang Bubuk), Dr T Jayabalan (PKR-Batu Uban) and Ong Chin Wen (PKR-Bukit Tengah).

Last November, Teh voted in support of Umno's motion to scrap all reclamation works in Penang but later withdrew, while the five PKR assemblypersons abstained from voting out the motion, incurring Lim's wrath and nearly creating a DAP-PKR crisis in Penang.

Penang legislative assembly speaker Law Choo Kiang (PKR- Bukit Tambun) and Maktar Shapee (PKR-Sungai Bakap) are also in the PTC.

Roping in stakeholders

Lim said the council's first meeting, to be organised by state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Padang Kota) will be held soon, where the members will be given their certificates of appointment.

Chow, who is state DAP chief, will chair the PTC meetings, while Lim will continue to preside over the sessions.

The PTC also includes state secretary Farizan Darus, Penang Island City Council mayor Patahiyah Ismail (photo), Seberang Perai Municipal councillor Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Town and Country Planning Department director Anuar Maidin and state Public Works Department director Salleh Awang.

“We are willing to listen to strong views; the new appointments include as many stakeholders as possible,” Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, said at a press conference in Komtar today.

He said two individuals offered the PTC posts have rejected the appointments, but the chief minister declined to name them.

The move to include BN and NGO leaders follows calls made during the recent state assembly sitting which concluded on May 20.

Umno motion withdrawn

During the session, Umno withdrew its earlier motion to scrap reclamation works as part of the RM27 billion TMP.

Chow, representing the state government, tabled a fresh motion to call for the reclamation - which covers about 4,100 acres and includes the creation of three artificial islands - to be withheld until the detailed environmental impact assessment (DEIA) is approved by the Department of Environment.

The motion was passed with the unanimous support of the 39 assemblypersons in the 40-member state assembly. Speaker Law did not vote as he presided over the session.

“We want to put on record that it is Chow and Law who spoke to the (10) Umno assemblypersons who agreed to withdraw their motion,” Lim said.

Muhamad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong), who withdrew his motion, said the move was in the “best interests of the people”.