THE absence of Penang DAP reps from a dialogue on floods and hillside developments organised by civil society groups yesterday does not mean the assemblymen are apathetic towards the people’s concerns, Dr P. Ramasamy said.

The deputy chief minister II said the reps were always open to meeting them to discuss issues affecting the state and its citizens.

“Just because we weren’t there, it does not mean we are less concerned about the issues raised,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“We don’t have problems going to dialogues organised by civil society, especially to address issues like developmental concerns. But it so happened that all reps were busy with programmes (over the) weekend.

“Deepavali was just over a week ago and there are open houses to meet electorates. DAP is also in the middle of preparing for its central executive committee (CEC) re-election. The groups should consider this.

“If I had time, I surely would have attended the dialogue yesterday. It would had been better if Penang Forum had fixed a more suitable time that would allow more of us to attend.”

Yesterday, Penang Forum – a coalition of local organisations that are vocal on over-development issues – organised a dialogue that highlighted concerns on flash floods and hillside projects in the state.

Nearly 200 concerned citizens, including Penang Barisan Nasional chief Teng Chang Yeow and other local BN leaders and supporters, had gathered at the Teochew Association for the dialogue.But out of the state’s 40 assemblymen and 13 members of parliament, fewer than 10 turned up.

Those present were state opposition leader Jahara Hamid (Teluk Air Tawar), Muhammad Farid Saad (Pulau Betong) and Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah (Teluk Bahang) from BN; and Cheah Kah Peng (Kebun Bunga), Dr Norlela Ariffin (Penanti), Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubok) and Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin from PKR.

Pulau Tikus rep Yap Soo Huey was the only DAP assemblyman present. The only other DAP member of parliament at the dialogue was Penang Island City councillor Syerleena Abdul Razak.

Residents association leaders expressed disappointment that most of the assemblymen from DAP, which has the most elected reps in Penang, were absent.

It was learnt that DAP had an internal party programme at the same time to prepare for the coming party special congress to re-elect its CEC.

Ramasamy said it was fine for civil society groups to criticise the state government, but for them to call for the administration to be kicked out was akin to blackmail and intimidation.

He also said the groups should not allow certain quarters to hijack their events to bash the administration.

He added it was unacceptable that Yap, despite showing up at the dialogue, was heckled when she tried to present her views.

Yap had tried to convey that it was not so easy to disallow all hillside developments without considering impacts to the construction sector and workers’ welfare, but she was repeatedly interrupted by some in the crowd.

Ramasamy also took issue with a participant’s remark that the state reps were too busy at Deepavali open houses.

“He made it sound like we were busy partying. Deepavali is as important as the other major cultural celebrations. It was a hit below the belt,” he said.

The Prai assemblyman said he was prepared to let bygones be bygones, and invited the coalition to set another date to talk to the state government.

“If they are serious in engaging the state, I welcome them to seek an appointment to see the chief minister and the local government exco Chow Kon Yeow.

“The groups have met the state in meetings and dialogues in the past. There is no problem in having another meeting.”

Meanwhile, Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai also invited Penang Forum to follow the debates on the flood issue at the state legislative assembly, which starts on Thursday.

“If Penang Forum sincerely wants to meet the state government, they can write to us and the state will meet them on an agreeable date.

“State reps do care about the floods and the issue is being handled by the flood mitigation committee and will be discussed at the assembly sitting,” said Wong, who is also political secretary to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

The two-term DAP rep said knew the situation as he had been helping flood victims in Taman Thean Teik and Kampung Shaik Madar and listening to their grouses.

Wong also said he was disappointed that the Penang Forum dialogue yesterday had been “politicised” by BN and its media to bash DAP reps.

He said he could not attend the dialogue as he had to attend the DAP programme that had been fixed earlier.

Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu, who was also absent yesterday, said he had informed Penang Forum in advance that he could not make it.

“I told them that I will raise their concerns at the coming state legislative assembly,” he said. – October 30, 2017.