ISSUES of flash floods, landslides and hill land developments have of late driven a wedge between the Penang government and local civil society groups.

So much so that a DAP government backbencher had to remind the two-term opposition administration that non-governmental organisations were not the enemy.

Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu said members of the administration needed to “readjust themselves” to hear and accept the suggestions and views of civil groups, as there was freedom of speech in Penang.

“There is no need to criticise the groups for doing their jobs,” he said in his debate on the state’s Budget 2018 at the state legislative assembly tonight.

Teh said in the past, the state government had no problems working with civil society groups to raise and address issues for the interest of the people.

He said the state had even worked with political rival Umno to solve village eviction issues in Tanjung Tokong and Batu Feringghi.

“That (working together) is the better way. They (groups) are not so bad.

“I hope we can be friendly with them again. Before 2008, when we were still in the opposition, we joined them in forums and raised issues together,” he said.

Teh reminded the state government how DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang had worked with Penang civil societies to fight plans to develop Penang Hill under the Gerakan-led administration in 1989.

The development plans were scrapped in the early nineties after Gerakan suffered huge losses in the 1990 general election.

Although Barisan Nasional retained the state government, the then Chief Minister Dr Lim Chong Eu lost his seat and retired from politics.

Teh said development seemed to have returned to Penang Hill under the current administration.

“With Penang Hill Corporation (PHC), there is a little development on the hill, like The Habitat,” he said.

PHC is a state agency set up in 2009 to manage the funicular train system and development on the hill.

The Habitat is an eco-friendly attraction on the hill but visitors must pay entrance fees.

“I think we have to be a bit careful. There are many plans under PHC for the hill.

“We have been able to preserve the hill’s natural beauty until now but we need to monitor the development now to ensure that the natural asset will not be commercialised,” Teh said.

He also cited how the opposition, including DAP, had worked with civil society groups to stop the Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project that was proposed at the Penang Turf Club – a green lung – when BN was in power.

Another project that saw them work together to stop was the Penang Outer Ring Road, another BN project that was opposed by Penangites, he said.

“Since we have had so much experience working with civil societies, we should make them our friends. They can share alternative views and ideas with us.

“They can provide check-and-balance, serve as a watchdog for the interest of the people. They are also part of the ‘rakyat marhaen’ (people).

“We cannot be blinded by power. Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” he said.

Recent floods and landslides in Penang had renewed calls by some local groups and residents associations to stop hill land and slope developments in the state.

Some of those who felt more strongly on the matter warned the state government that it risked getting kicked out of office. The remark did not sit well with some state government leaders.

Teh is one of the few government backbenchers in the House who dare criticise and question the administration.

He recently told the media he would quit DAP when parliament and the state legislative dissolved. – November 10, 2017.