A PKR backbencher today told the state government to get the local councils to consult assemblymen and village development and security committees (JKKK) before approving planning permission applications for projects.

Penanti rep Dr Norlela Ariffin said she could not see why the local councils could consult over 22 government technical agencies for their input, but could not add two more parties to gather feedback.

She said she had raised this in a written question at the state legislative assembly before, but was told it was not part of the procedure to ask assemblymen and the local JKKK what they thought.

“Why can’t the councils’ one-stop centres (OSC) consult the assemblymen and JKKK?,” she said, referring to the committee that decided on whether to approve or reject project applications.

“After all, the assemblymen are elected by the people to represent them. Why can’t the procedures be amended or made more flexible to include the assemblymen and JKKK?” she said at the state legislative assembly sitting today.

Norlela cited a columbarium project in her constituency as an example, saying a hill land was cleared for the project before the elected rep and the community were consulted.

The vocal PKR government backbencher, whose state constituency in Permatang Pauh was badly affected by last weekend’s flash floods, also argued hill land should be preserved as natural sponges to absorb rainfall to prevent flash floods.

She also called for the local councils to be supplied with drones to monitor activities on hills, and for company directors to be charged if their companies violated the law.

Earlier, state opposition leader Jahara Hamid (BN-Teluk Air Tawar) urged the state government to compel those who apply for entertainment licenses to advertise their outlets in the newspapers, just like those seeking permission to sell liquor.

“The advertisements will inform the public of any plans by anyone to open an entertainment outlet near them, and to check if the people have objections.

“It would be silly to claim the license was approved because this committee and that did not object to the application. The local community should be consulted as well,” she said.

Jahara also questioned why the local authorities had allowed so many entertainment outlets to be opened in Penang since 2008. 

She said there were 2,121 family entertainment, karaoke, snooker and massage parlours outlets, with council licenses and without. 

She said 121 outlets had no approval from the police. 

It was reported last month the police in Penang conducted 240 raids and over 478 simulators, more than 709 slot machines and over 180 other devices used for illegal gambling were seized. – November 8, 2017.