GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is baffled as to why the uprooting of trees for a road widening project along Jalan Masjid Negeri has become "such a big issue."
Commenting on a recent protests by an NGO over a number of trees which are set to be relocated, Lim said other states also do the same thing.
"In other states, they cut down trees or forests and it is not an issue. But in Penang, it becomes a very big issue if we uproot even one tree.
"In other states, road widening projects are not an issue but in Penang, it is," he said, adding that the road widening project was not to make money or benefit any company.
He also pointed out that people had also protested when 40 trees were uprooted for the Udini roundabout project in 2015, but were now happy as the roundabout had lessened the traffic congestion in the area.
Lim called on NGOs to also protest on matters of national interest and not just on the environment.
"Do not be emotional. Be rational.
"If you want to protest, show also your concern about the country and demonstrate about political funding," he said in his speech to some 200 people at the Seri Delima constituency Chinese New Year open house at the Japanese Garden, Jalan Mas here yesterday.
It was reported that 18 trees in Jalan Scotland and Jalan Masjid Negeri will be uprooted and relocated to make way for a road-widening project.
The project is part of a bigger
RM24.45 million project, which includes upgrading Jalan Air Itam, Jalan Scotland and the intersection of Lorong Batu Lanchang and Jalan Hamilton, aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the area.
The project started last Nov and is expected to be completed by May next year.
On Tuesday, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) held a protest on the uprooting of the trees at Jalan Masjid Negeri.
The group's president S.M. Mohamed Idris urged the state government to scrap the plans and not prioritise road building.