GEORGETOWN: The Penang government has been slammed for failing to table the state Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on the controversial clearing of Bukit Gambir, popularly known as Bukit Botak.
Citizens Awareness Chant Group (Chant) adviser Yan Lee said the failure of the DAP-led Penang government to table the report at the last state legislative assembly sitting showed the administration does not “walk the talk” in efforts to preserve the area.
He said the action could be described as “eating one’s words” when the DAP had previously questioned the failure by the Barisan Nasional federal government to table the PAC report on 1Malaysia Developement Bhd (1MDB) at the Dewan Rakyat.
“Is the Penang government trying to hide something from the people, more so when the report had already been completed in May? In fact, the state government has also failed to implement many of the recommendations in the report, which was distributed to all state assemblymen during the last sitting,” he told newsmen here today.
The recommendations included replanting, the use of geotextiles and preservation of the cleared site, among others.
(Geotextiles are permeable fabrics which, when used in association with soil, have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain.)
Between February and May 2013, a football field-sized portion (0.8ha) of Bukit Botak facing the Penang Bridge was cleared.
After a public outcry over the hill top being cleared without Penang Island City Council approval, the landowner was fined.
The Penang Sessions Court found that General Accomplishment Sdn Bhd had failed to submit an earthworks plan as required by Section 70A of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
It was slapped with a RM30,000 fine. The amount was later raised to RM50,000.
The landowners were told to adhere to special mitigation steps recommended by the state’s Hillside Geotechnical Advisory Panel to reverse the damage on the site.
Until today, the hill appears to be “bald” despite work to replant trees in the area. Today, the barren hilltop remains an eyesore and is visible from the Penang Bridge.
Meanwhile, Lee urged the Penang government to debate the matter at the coming state legislative assembly sitting which begins on Thursday.
“We also demand the council explain the latest status of replanting efforts atop the hill,” he added.
When contacted, PKR’s Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin, a state PAC member, confirmed that the report was not tabled at the state legislative assembly sitting.
“This is a waste, especially since a lot of hard work had been put into preparing the report,” she added.