THE two local authorities in the state have been directed not to turn a blind eye to VIPs breaking traffic regulations.
The order, issued by the state Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, also does not exempt Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
“There will be no exemptions for anybody. I will write to both the Penang Island and Seberang Prai municipal councils soon and the directive will come into effect once they have received the letters,” he said here recently.
Chow said this following an incident where Lim’s official car was spotted illegally parked in Jalan Gurdwara here.
A photo of the offence committed by Lim’s driver went viral on social media recently.
He said all drivers of VIPs and state government officials must adhere strictly to the new directive and traffic regulations.
On Friday, a report was uploaded on the Penang Island Municipal Council’s Watch Facebook page that PG1, Lim’s official car, was spotted parked in the bicycle lane in front of the Hin Bus Depot Art Centre.
It drew criticism and two days later, during the Penang DAP convention held in Bukit Mertajam, Chai Leng Park branch delegate, Shamsher Singh Thind questioned Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, on the matter and demanded an explanation.
Lim responded by saying he would ask Chow to instruct the councils’ enforcement officers not to make excuses for VIPs or their drivers who violate traffic regulations.