PKR Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin has urged BN not to “politicise” the Pulau Jerejak issue.

Sim said the island, off the Bayan Lepas coast, falls within his constituency, and is deemed a “treasure” by Penangites.

“Instead of politicising the issue, let’s focus on what we can do for the island,” Sim told a press conference at the lobby of the Penang Legislative Assembly building.

“We want to keep and maintain its beauty and we are glad that the Penang government plans to gazette some parts of the island as a state park,” he added.

Yesterday, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said his administration will seek to gazette parts of the 895 acre Island as a state park.

The state park excludes 80 acres of land that will be redeveloped by Tropical Island Resort Sdn Bhd (TIRSB), and another plot owned by Boustead shipyard.

Penang Development Corporation (PDC), a state agency, recently sold its 49 percent stake in TIRSB to Ideal Property Development.

The deal was brokered by federal-linked UDA Holdings, which holds the remaining 51 percent shares in TIRSB.

State BN has criticised Lim for the deal, with its chief Teng Chang Yeow alleging that the CM had rejected a 2013 agreement involving TIRSB that could have seen PDC earn RM220 million in profit.

Lim has slammed Teng for the “very dangerous lie and slander”, demanding the latter show proof of his allegations.

Lim clarified that the Penang government was rescuing PDC from a losing joint venture as it will profit RM140 million from the deal.

Meanwhile, Sim said Penangites would not want Pulau Jerejak to end up like the “overdeveloped” touristic Sentosa Island in Singapore.

“Let there be a sustainable development in Pulau Jerejak,” Sim said.

He admitted that the landowner for the 80 acres of land has the right to develop the place.

“But the project needs to be accepted by the people.

“Many NGOs have raised the issue with me and we need to hear their feedback,” Sim said.

Those who voiced their concerns include Penang Forum, a coalition of local NGOs, which urged the state to reconsider development and protect the island’s green lung.

Sim said he has requested the Penang executive council to brief him on the issue.

In turn, he said he was willing to arrange a consultation session between the authorities and the NGOs over the matter.

“There is no need to rush and push for development in Pulau Jerejak.

“As the assemblyman for Pantai Jerejak, I had raised the issue of gazetting the island as a forest reserve.

“However, I was told that the matter was stalled due to problems with the land surveyor, I hope this issue can be overcome soon.”