THE Penang government today asked Barisan Nasional if it will agree to action being taken against illegal structures built before the 2008 general election.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government wanted to know BN’s position on the matter, since the illegal structures it was sparing from enforcement action were a legacy of the previous BN state government.

A DAP-led opposition coalition took the reins of the Penang government after the March 2008 polls.

“We have been explaining that we try to address the issue concerning illegal structures that had been around since before our time in government amicably. We try to legalise them if possible.

“The policy covers illegal hawkers too. As long as they are not obstructing traffic or causing problems to the public, we won’t remove them.

“I want to ask BN, which left the illegal structures with us. Do they agree or disagree with this present policy? If they disagree, will they take responsibility when action is taken against the illegal structures,” Lim said today.

The issue with Penang’s “humane” policy on illegal structures has recently become a hot topic, after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested state Welfare, Caring Society and Environment executive councillor Phee Boon Poh for investigation.

He had written two letters in 2015 and 2016 to defer enforcement action against an illegal carbon filter processing factory in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam. 

MACC is investigating Phee, who was freed from custody yesterday, for allegedly using his position for gratification – a claim rejected by the Pakatan Harapan administration.

Lim said he would not deny that the present state policy concerning illegal structures, such as the Sungai Lembu factory, could affect nearby residents.

“I apologise if the policy has caused problems. I also apologise to those, like illegal hawkers, who are unhappy with us because they had been subjected to our enforcement action.

“But we must be consistent with our own policies,” he said.

The Penang administration had come under heavy criticism when local authorities remove illegal structures, such as hawker stalls. In many cases, the criticisms have come from BN or its supporters.

“When BN was around, they did not do anything. We are the ones who get struck in the middle.

“When we demolish (illegal structures), we get bashed. When we don’t, we also get bashed. They claim we act against some and not others, but they fail to acknowledge that we give some leeway to those that had been around since BN’s time,” Lim said.

Penang Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman called on the state government to be more strict with illegal factories, especially those that endangered public health and safety.

He said Lim should not play the blame game, as they had the power to shut down illegal factories. 

“Lim has to stop politicising state policies and administrative matters. Don’t be a hypocrite and keep lying to the people of Penang after being in government for nine years.

“If you can’t bring change, then it is good for the people to change and save Penang,” he said in a statement.

He said the state government had closed two other illegal factories in Penanti – the same constituency where the Sungai Lembu factory is located.

He said it was surprising that the competent, accountable and transparent Penang government had taken nine years to solve the issue raised several times by Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin at the state assembly.

He asked why only yesterday the factory was ordered to shut down by the Department of Environment despite previous complaints, questioning if there had been interference by the state government before this.

Zainal also questioned the state’s “humane” policy on illegal structures, asking when it was passed by the state executive coucil and whether Lim could disclose the minutes of the meeting. – August 15, 2017.