GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today admitted that Sungai Lembu villagers have suffered problems due to the existence of the illegal carbon filter factory in their backyard.
Lim, who blamed the previous Barisan Nasional administration for the predicament, apologised to the residents for the state government’s policy of not demolishing illegal structures set up before 2008.
“I do not deny that the (state government's) policy affects Sungai Lembu as the factory was built before 2008...we inherited the illegal factory from the BN government.
“I also do not deny it surely has a negative effect on the residents.
“I want to apologise on behalf of the state government over the policy if it has brought trouble to the villagers,” he said.
Lim also apologised to hawkers and owners of premises, who were unhappy, over the demolition actions taken by the state government so far.
“But we have to enforce the state government's policy, which is carried out consistently.
“There are quarters who asked why certain buildings were demolished but they did not want to reveal that those structures demolished were set up after 2008 and those not demolished were set up before 2008.
“We have no discrimination...we only enforced the existing policy, and for this policy, I apologise if it had caused trouble to certain parties,” he said.
Lim had reportedly said that all illegal structures or hawker stalls set up before 2008 would not be demolished.
He had said that the state government would instead find other solutions, including legalising the premises, so that the matter could be settled amicably.
“The policy to maintain all illegal structures set up before 2008 is however conditional to the fact that the structures are not disrupting traffic and disturbing the people
“If it do, then we will take actions against the structures,” he had said, adding that illegal structures set up after 2008 were demolished as humanly as possible.
Meanwhile, Lim also asked BN if they agreed with the state government’s policy.
“If they do not agree, are they prepared to be responsible when we take actions against the illegal structures, which number by the thousands.
“What is their stand. Do they agree or not?” he asked.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and other government agencies raided the illegal carbon filter factory in Sungai Lembu last Thursday after repeated complaints fell on deaf ears.
The following day, state Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh was arrested to facilitate investigation into the matter. Also detained was the factory's 70-year-old manager and his 37-year-old son, a director.
All three have since been released from remand.