Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has claimed that DAP central committee member Dr Tan Seng Giaw has been “incommunicado” since early this year.

Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, revealed this at a press conference this afternoon when commenting on Seng Giaw's complaint on disappearing greenery in Penang.

The chief minister said DAP would deal with the criticism internally, but declined to elaborate.

"We will deal with him internally, but he has been incommunicado since early this year, we have not been able to reach him," he said.

Claiming that Seng Giaw has not been answering phone calls, Lim also said the veteran DAP lawmaker has not aired his grouses regarding Penang's greenery to the party.

However, Malaysiakini managed to contact Seng Giaw on his mobile phone on the first attempt this afternoon.

Dismissing Lim's claims, he said: “You got me, isn't it? How difficult was it for you to contact me? Very easy, so no problem.”

Asked if the party had contacted him, he replied: “I won't say anything. The more you say, the more problems.”

On Sunday, Seng Giaw wrote on his Facebook page, in four languages including Jawi, on the situation in Penang.

"Going around Penang island today, we find the coast is changing, and Balik Pulau is less green.

"The population of 850,000 require houses and employment. The priority is to preserve the forest and the green," he said.

Standing by his remarks today, Tan brushed off concerns that he may face disciplinary action, although Lim did not state that was being planned.

"What disciplinary action is there to take?" he said.

The DAP lawmaker also said his remarks were in line with upholding the Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions - of which Malaysia is a signatory.

However he said the problem of reduced greenery was not confined to Penang, but was a global problem and other countries such as the US, China and India were far worse.

Seng Giaw's sentiment was echoed by Penang MCA chairperson Tan Teik Cheng, who blamed the current state government for the "wanton destruction" of Penang's once lush greenery.

Teik Cheng said Seng Giaw's remarks "hit the nail on the head, and gave the Penang government a slap on the face".

Meanwhile, Lim denied both Seng Giaw and Teik Cheng's allegations, suggesting that there are some who equated the Jalan Bukit Kukus road project to deforestation.

He added that the project would have some effect on hill slopes as the road cuts through a forest.

Comparing statistics on the clearing of forest reserves by states, Lim said Pahang had cleared 161,379 hectares from permanent forest reserves, while Perak cut down 74,032 hectares and Kelantan, 157,919 between the period of 2006 and 2015.

Lim said this information was sourced from the natural resources and environment ministry.

"Even a small state like Perlis cut down two hectares of permanent forest reserves in 2011, and 165 hectares in 2015," he added.