Tuesday July 26, 2011

Penang CM slammed for rejecting projects

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Barisan Nasional has taken the state government to task for turning down Federal Government-linked companies’ applications to build low to medium-cost houses.

State Barisan working committee deputy chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman urged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to be considerate and approve such projects as it would benefit the lower income groups here.

“The state government has not launched any housing projects for the poor or the middle-income group since they assumed control of the state in 2008,” he said.

“If they cannot do it, then they should allow the federal agencies or companies to execute such projects and not block it,” Zainal Abidin said after leading a state Barisan walkabout in Bukit Mertajam yesterday.

Those present included state MCA secretary Lau Chiek Tuan, state MIC deputy chief L. Krishnan, Penang PPP chief Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mogan and state Gerakan Wanita chief Ng Siew Lai.

The group was accompanied by some 100 grassroots members who distributed more than 2,000 biodegradable bags to customers at a wet market in Taman Selamat, Alma near here.

Zainal Abidin said the current projects undertaken by federal agencies such as the Urban Development Authority, the Penang Regional Development Authority, Mara and Syarikat Perumahan Negara would see about 1,500 low to medium-cost houses being constructed here.

Lau said the state seemed to be more interested in other forms of governance, which would generate bigger revenue instead of socio-economic programmes.

“The state recently acquired land for industrial development in Juru,” he said. “This shows what they preach and what they practise are altogether different.”

Dr Loga Bala said Lim should not limit the benefits from the state government to only registered voters but for the entire population.

He added that civil servants and workers in the private sector, living in neighbouring states but working in Penang, should also benefit from whatever programmes the state had planned.

Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who is the state Local Government and Traffic Management committee chairman, could not be reached for comment.

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