DAP man convinced NGO is 'anti-Penang' based on track record

After Pengkalan Kota assemblyperson Daniel Gooi branded the Penang Forum "anti-Penang," a DAP activist is convinced that the NGO coalition is out to obstruct development in the state.

Speaking to Malaysiakini today, former Seberang Perai local councillor Joshua Woo said that based on its track record, Penang Forum often "opposes for the sake of opposing."

"Besides their present objection against the undersea tunnel project, Pan Island Link (PIL) highway, LRT, and Penang South Reclamation (PSR), the NGO has been trying to stop progress in Penang," he said.

Woo was responding to social activist Stanley Sudhagaran, who took aim at Gooi for his remarks against Penang Forum over its criticisms of the Sia Boey Canal Rejuvenation project.

Stanley had said that certain local councillors and elected representatives need "tuition classes" on the role of civil society, and that they have forgotten their roots when previously part of the opposition.

Though admitting the attractiveness of the rejuvenated canal, Penang Forum questioned on Saturday whether the water was cleaned before it was discharged into the sea.

Woo, however, recalled the objection of NGOs under Penang Forum to the development of a former construction site into a theme park in Teluk Bahang.

"That scared the banks and investors away from funding the project. Fortunately, the project proponent did not give up and worked hard to raise capital for the work.

"Today, the Escape Theme Park has planted 3,000 trees at the former construction site, providing jobs to the locals as the single biggest employer in Teluk Bahang," he said.

Woo noted that the theme park also won a tourism attraction award, and has received more than one million visitors since its opening. 

The developer is also currently building the world's longest waterslide, which will be another tourist attraction for Penang.

Woo added that Penang Forum also objected to the redevelopment of the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa).

"But the plan went ahead and now Penang has the biggest convention centre in the northern region of the peninsula, that is also the first hybrid solar-powered convention centre in the world.

"It is the recipient of internationally prestigious Fiabci award, and contributed to Penang's RM1.3 billion business events industry in 2018," he said.

Now that the state government is rejuvenating the historic Sia Boey into a public park for Penangites, Woo said, all the NGO is doing is to "spin the good effort into something bad."

"I'm convinced that based on their track record, these critics are anti-Penang."

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