GEORGE TOWN: Gerakan has urged all Penang PKR elected representatives to state their stand on the controversial Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.
This follows PKR Permatang Pauh member of parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar's call for the federal and state governments to cancel the mega reclamation project in the southern part of the island in view of immediate pressing needs of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in an effort to preserve Penang's valuable fishing grounds, the livelihood of fishermen and overall food security.
State Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong said Nurul Izzah had made a clear stand with regards to the PSR project, now referred to as the Penang South Islands (PSI) project.
"What about the stand of the other PKR elected representatives in the state? In the last general election, the people had given an overwhelming mandate to Pakatan Harapan to enable the coalition to lead the state for the third consecutive term as well as wrestle power at the federal level.
"However, it looks like the mandate given by the people is futile because their elected representatives choose to keep quiet on projects which affect the people, particularly the PSR project," he said today.
On this issue, Oh said, the elected representatives mandated by the people do not have their interests at heart. Rather, they are more concerned about the consortiums involved in the mega project.
"The Pakatan-led Penang government has ignored the people's voices and continues to be stubborn in wanting to implement the project, which may potentially cause permanent destruction to the environment.
"This PSR issue is being hotly debated yet PKR elected representatives, especially those representing the people in the affected areas, still choose to keep mum. Are they there to protect the interests of the people or the developer?
"Nurul Izzah has stated her stand. What about Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru MP), Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Balik Pulau MP), Mohd Tuah Ismail (Pulau Betong assemblyman), Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Pantai Jerejak assemblyman) and Parti Amanah Negara's Azrul Mahathir Aziz (Bayan Lepas assemblyman)?"
Oh also applauded Nurul Izzah for her bravery in coming forward to state her stand against Penang Pakatan's projects.
"What she had said is also the laments of various parties, including Gerakan. This shows we are not only objecting for the sake of objecting," he added.
Nurul Izzah, in a statement on Monday, had said that the massive reclamation project should be cancelled in view of immediate pressing needs of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in an effort to preserve Penang's valuable fishing grounds, the livelihood of fishermen and overall food security.
In response, state Infrastructure and Transport Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari had yesterday said, the reclamation project had been identified by the Penang Socio-Economic Recovery Consultative Council (PSERCC) as a key recovery driver of the state.
The project was to ensure Penang's economy survived as much as its people during and after the current Covid-19 crisis, and is needed now more than ever as a catalytic development project for Penang.
Last Sunday, 10 DAP assemblymen issued a statement to affirm the necessity, feasibility and the vision underlying the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) and the reclamation projects.
They claimed the recent objections raised by Gerakan, Pas, state opposition-linked NGOs and Penang Forum were recycled criticisms that had been answered numerous times.
They also claimed that, in blindly protesting against the PTMP and reclamation, the above parties had demonstrated their lack of vision and direction to drive and sustain Penang's socioe-conomic growth for now and in the future.
Meanwhile, Oh also urged DAP not to be egoistic in this issue, adding that their 19 elected representatives would never be able to bear the possible destruction the project may bring.
"To the Penang government, don't take the people's concerns lightly and regard their support as a given. I hope voters, especially in the southern part of the island, will hold firm that they will not compromise on this issue.
"Know the real behaviour of DAP, which not only brushed aside the existence of the other component parties, but also does not respect the views of the people against the project voiced through a petition between the NGOs and some 110,000 people of Penang," he added.
In this respect, he said, Gerakan would continue to stand on the side of the NGOs and the people to defend them.