Monday September 10, 2012

Ng under fire again – for getting in fellow rep’s way

By TAN SIN CHOW
sctan@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: Komtar DAP assemblyman Ng Wei Aik has courted another controversy, this time for allegedly “encroaching” into a fellow Pakatan Rakyat assemblyman’s constituency.

PKR’s Batu Uban assemblyman S. Raveentharan claimed that Ng had met up with committee members of Lip Sin Garden Tow Boo Keong Association over plans to build a temple in Medan Nipah.

The site for the temple is located within Raveentharan’s constituency. It used to be a sewerage treatment plant which has been left idle.

Describing Ng’s action as lacking decorum, Raveentharan said he should have been informed of the matter.

“I am shocked and unhappy. He should have the courtesy to tell me about the discussion,” said Raveentharan.

“Even residents in Medan Nipah were kept in the dark about the matter, and it has caused unrest among the residents,” he said, adding that he would schedule a meeting with Ng and other relevant authorities.

“We will resolve the matter amicably by looking at the best possible solution and how best to utilise the land,” he said at a press conference organised by the Medan Nipah Residents Association yesterday. “The residents want the land turned into a recreational park.”

On June 21, Guang Ming Daily had reported of the committee members proposing to Ng that a temple could be built at the 0.15ha site.

A day later, the state government was quoted by Sin Chew Daily as saying that it would consider the proposal, provided that the committee got the consensus from some 2,000 residents staying within the 500m radius of the proposed site.

Early this month, Guang Ming Daily reported that the committee had since secured 1,100 petitions, supporting the building of the temple there.

However, some 1,200 residents from 250 households in Pesara Nipah, Medan Nipah, Jalan Nipah and Lebuh Nipah disputed the authenticity of the petition.

They claimed none of them, who would be the most affected if a temple was built there, were approached for their signatures.

Association spokesperson S.A. Chan, 41, said they were against the construction of a temple as it would cause problems such as traffic congestion, hygiene, security and safety issues.

Ng could not be reached for comment.

Last month, Ng was chided for announcing plans to construct a bus stop on a private land.

It was reported that the alleged project on a Ong Kongsi property, opposite Komtar in Penang Road, was a serious offence against the land owners, who are now considering legal action.

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Monday September 10, 2012

Ng under fire again – for getting in fellow rep’s way

By TAN SIN CHOW sctan@thestar.com.my

By TAN SIN CHOW
sctan@thestar.com.my