Vocal Penang Island City councillor Lim Mah Hui has resigned from his post, ending his eight-year service as one of the most outspoken councillors in the history of the state.

Lim, who is also an active member of Penang Forum - a coalition of 14 NGOs - announced his decision at the council’s full meeting yesterday.

He said his speech at the meeting would be his last, as he has declined to be nominated by civil society to the state authority for reappointment to the council.

“There have been ups and downs in my tenure as a councillor. There have been moments of conflict, but also more moments of cooperation,” Lim said in his speech to the council.

“I offer my apologies if I have stepped on toes in the course of my duties.

“Rest assured that everything was done with the best of intentions, and for the betterment of our city,” he added.

Although Lim has been rapped for his views against some of the state's policies, he thanked the authorities for giving him the opportunity to serve Penangites.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had in the past described Lim as “a liar” eight times following his criticisms against sea reclamation, and threats to George Town's heritage status and the island’s environment posed by the state's RM27 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

Mah Hui had engaged in several verbal wars with fellow councillors, as well as with state agency George Town World Heritage Incorporated general manager Ang Ming Chee, who had once described him a “backstabber” for writing a letter to Unesco World Heritage Centre about the impact of the PTMP on the site.

Council praised for achievements

Despite his stormy relationship with the state government, Mah Hui praised the council for “important progress achieved” for example the bike sharing system in George Town.

The councillor walks the talk, and is often seen travelling to work or to attend council meetings on his bicycle.

He noted that the city is cleaner today and segregation of waste has been legislated. although “implementation is still wanting”.

He expressed concern for the lack of care and maintenance of existing trees, the higher incidences of illegal cutting of trees and clearing of hill forests, citing the example of the 'Botak Hill' episode.

“Council should demand imposition of heavy penalties, including jail sentence to deter such irresponsible behaviour,” he urged.

Overbuilding in George Town

Meanwhile, Mah Hui complained about overbuilding in George Town, which he said “isn’t about development”.

He cited how buildings of heritage value like the Khaw Sim Bee mansion had been torn down illegally, while others were legally dismantled to make way for private development.

“Last month, building guidelines on height control along Scotland Road, a designated protocol road, were changed to allow a developer to double the number of floors he can build from 12 to 22 on a small plot of one-acre land.

“In another case, submission for approval has been made for construction of a 38-storey hotel on a small plot of land measuring 29,000 sq ft in a residential area along Jalan Tanjong Tokong and Pantai Molek,” Mah Hui claimed.

“There is good development and there is bad development. Such practices (as mentioned), in my mind, do not constitute good or sustainable development.”

'Open meetings to public'

Before he ended his speech, Mah Hui reminded the council that the body exists to serve ratepayers and the public.

He cited Section 23 of the Local Government Act 197, which states that all meetings of the local authority shall be open to the public and to the press.

He said this should be done unless the local authority by resolution at a particular meeting decides otherwise.

“In the interest of promoting greater transparency and participation, and in accordance with Local Agenda 21 that encourages the promotion greater public participation, this council should be a leader to adopt the policy of allowing members of the public to speak at full council meetings.

“It should also open up its committee and subcommittee meetings to members of the public,” Mah Hui proposed.

“We can then claim to be a C.A.T. (competency, accountable and transparent) government,” Mah Hui said.