State opposition leader Jahara Hamid (BN-Teluk Ayer Tawar) and two other Umno assemblypersons snubbed the first meeting of the Penang Transport Council (PTC) today.

The Umno assemblypersons are part of the 54 new members of the PTC who were supposed to receive their appointment letters at the meeting which was held at the Caring Society Complex.

In a statement today, Jahara said the Penang government had organised the meeting "in a haste".

She added that it appeared as if the PTC members were merely "rubber stamps" to endorse the state government plan to develop the Penang Transport Master Plan (TMP).

"So the three of us will not attend the meeting until we have received more information about what it entails to be a PTC member," Jahara said.

The other two members were Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah (BN-Teluk Bahang) and Nordin Ahmad (BN-Bayan Lepas).

"We have not received our appointment letters yet and we do not know what are the terms of reference, function and role and scope of power of the PTC members," added Jahara.

"These information are important for us to know whether the PTC can be a proper body to monitor the planning and implementation of the Transport Master Plan," she stressed.

Jahara (photo) said the information requested was also necessary to ensure that the state was committed to the resolution passed by the recent May state assembly proceeding.

The motion, supported by all Pakatan Harapan representatives, stated that the Transport Master Plan will only be implemented after the Department of Environment approved the environmental impact assessment.

The motion also called on the state government to seek alternative sources of funding instead of carrying out reclamation work along the 4,100 acres of land at the southern post of the island.

The 10 Umno representatives abstained from voting against the motion.

The meeting today was presided by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and state executive councillor cum PTC chairperson Chow Kon Yeow.

Other prominent activists appointed to the PTC are vocal critics of reclamation and the TMP - Consumers Association of Penang president SM Mohamed Idris, Penang Island City councillor Lim Mah Hui and popular blogger cum Aliran treasurer Anil Netto.

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).

Some rejected the offer

Lim said several individuals who were appointed to the PTC have rejected the offer.

"We accept their decision not to provide their services to the PTC but we will carry on our work," he said.

According to Chow, the first task of the PTC is to help monitor and review the mega projects related to the PTC.

He said the PTC committee members will act as advisers for the project, to ensure that it is implemented properly.

"The appointment of PTC members from various sectors shows that Penang is very committed to this project.

"The PTC will also function as a platform to hear views and to ensure that such views are communicated to the state and project contractors to avoid any misunderstanding," he said.

New invitation letters

Asked to comment about the snub by Umno reps, Chow said new invitation letters will be sent out to the trio.

This time, the terms of reference for their role as PTC members, as requested, will be sent to them as well, Chow added.

"The door is still open, we leave it to them to decide (on becoming PTC members)," Chow said.

It is learnt that an appointed member of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (Penang branch director M Samarajoo), was also absent as he has retired.

As for requests by PRC members that the agreement between the state and TMP project delivery partner (PDP) SRS Consortium be made available, Chow said the document could be viewed in Komtar for two weeks.

"It is not signed yet as there were still adjustments to be made based on feedback from stakeholders," Chow added.