GE14 | BN's battle for Tanjung Bungah, which earlier seem like a "troubled" seat for Pakatan Harapan, may backfire if its candidate Teng Chang Yeow keeps on harping on hillslope development.  

DAP's candidate Zairil Khir Johari asked if Teng is being "sabotaged" by his own comrades as BN's campaign to focus on environment issues remind folks in Tanjung Bungah about their state chief's earlier "achievements" as executive councillor for environment prior to 2008.

Zairil finds it rather perplexing that Teng's fellow BN candidate for Pulau Tikus, Jason Loo, has been featuring himself on large billboards depicting Penang's own Beverly Hills and Surin Apartments projects, which have been hit by landslides, and are sights for sore eyes. 

Teng himself have been repeating similar remarks as if hillslope projects are 100 percent dangerous to the Tanjung Bungah community, which has seen highrise development taking place since the 1990s.

He recently made his stand clear that he would object to any plans for highrise buildings above 250 feet, to which Zairil agrees, as that is the limit imposed by the Penang government.

Pulau Tikus falls under the Bukit Bendera parliamentary constituency like Tanjung Bungah and Kebun Bungah.  

The constituency, which houses luxury hotels facing the Andaman sea, is populated mostly by middle and upper-class citizens, foreigners who are in Penang under the Malaysian Second Home Project and tourists.

"Loo has been blaming the state government for the hillslope projects, but the question is, which state government is he blaming?" Zairil asked.

"The projects were approved by the BN government in 2007, and it was done under the watch of Teng himself who was then the state exco for environment," Zairil told Malaysiakini.

"Perhaps, he is trying to sabotage his boss by trying to lay the blame on us, when they are actually to blame," he said.

"It is very hypocritical and ironic."

Zairil said BN has also been attacking the Harapan administration for the mudflats and debris on Gurney Drive.

"But the reasons for these are because of reclamation works in Tanjung Sri Pinang 1, which were completed in 2006.

"Again, this was approved during BN's time when Teng was the exco for environment," he added.

Zairil finds it very strange that he is blaming the DAP for actions done by Teng's own party.

He reminds his opponents in BN that the Harapan government had to fix, restore and rejuvenate Gurney Drive to make it accessible and enjoyable for the people by developing the Gurney Wharf.

Laughing, the former Bukit Bendera MP said: "Perhaps, they are trying to remind people of their so-called (previous) achievements".

Teng and Loo (photo) have been churning out statements after statements about the same issues on hillslope development, landslides and floods, since they hit the campaign trail on nomination day.

"Everyday they keep talking about the same issues and everyday I keep reminding people that they are the ones who did it," said Zairil.

"Their whole campaign is based on issues done by them. It's a joke," Zairil, 35, added.

It is learnt that this line of campaigning by BN had slightly affected his chances of wresting the Tanjung Bungah seat.

Popular NGOs like Chant Awareness, Penang Forum and Tanjung Bungah Residents Association want to send a clear message to the Penang government that hillslope development cannot be tolerated.

State government has nothing to hide

It is even speculated that Zairil may suffer a reduced majority if he wins, or if the tide turns against him on May 9 polling day, the seat would return to BN.

Zairil conceded that he is often asked questions about the issue every day.

"But I answer every question that I am asked, after I explain people seem to understand and accept my clarification.

"They tell me that they are unaware of what is happening as there is a lot of misinformation out there.

"It is the question of getting the right messages and information across as BN candidates get a lot of coverage in the mainstream media and we don't.

"They keep parroting the same thing also but when we explain the truth people can accept it.

"Thanks to social media and independent portals people can get both sides of the story now and are not so gullible anymore," he explained.

Zairil  (photo) remains positive about his campaign and said the state government had nothing to hide and was transparent about the projects in question.

Meanwhile, BN candidates have endorsed Penang Forum's Agenda 2018 yesterday, which includes housing, hillside control, traffic and flood, women and youth.

To this, Zairil shot back: "Can he (Teng) walk the talk?

"Since the same guy responsible for these actions suddenly says he endorses protection of environment when he didn't protect anything during his term as exco of environment.

"Now he wants to be the protector of the environment, I think it's a joke. First, walk the talk.

"Our hillslope police of not approving any development above 250ft is more stringent than the federal government's 500ft."

"If he really believes in it, why doesn't he convince the federal government to change its policy on hillslope development?

"If he does that, he can come and talk, right now. He is merely making empty promises, so why should people vote for empty promises?" Zairil asked.