AS a parting shot on the last day of the state assembly sitting for the term, the Barisan Nasional (BN) opposition declared the Penang government’s CAT dead and that it was up to the people to save the state.

CAT is the acronym for competency, accountability and transparency espoused by the state  administration.

Opposition leader Jahara Hamid (BN-Teluk Air Tawar) said BN has proved that CAT is dead in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.

“We have proved that many promises made by the PH government were not fulfilled over the last nine years. 

“Sweet promises in the old Pakatan Rakyat manifesto were also not kept,” she said in a press conference at the opposition leader’s office in the state assembly building. 

Earlier this week, BN backbenchers had taken the state to task for failing to deliver on 51 promises, including projects the state government had announced to the media.

Such projects include the Aerobus development linking the mainland and the island, which was announced in 2008, and a city tram service and a tiger park proposed the same year.

In 2009, the state announced it would gazette Pulau Jerejak as a permanent forest reserve.

The BN reps also asked about the progress on an arcade and seafood complex project in Batu Kawan that cost RM6 million. The building was now dilapidated, Muhamad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong) said.

The state did not address the 51 unfulfilled promises in the legislative assembly.

Jahara also slammed the government for not walking the talk in corruption – a topic favoured by PH reps that is regularly raised and discussed at length in state assembly sittings.

“Now the administration has a black mark because the chief minister has been charged with corruption.”

Jahara was referring to Lim Guan Eng being accused of corruption over his purchase of his Jalan Pinhorn bungalow at a discounted price.

Farid said the state showed it lacked integrity in not asking Lim to go on leave until a verdict is reached.

Jahara accused the Penang government of selling state land to private companies when state investment arm Penang Development Corporation should have developed the land for the benefit of the people.

“The state seems to give priority to the private sector with mega projects rather than the people.”

Jahara, a five-term rep who is serving her final term before retiring, also criticised the excos for their sporadic absences throughout the sitting.

“It shows they are not serious about the sitting. The assembly is not a priority for them. They should have scheduled their meetings for another time when the assembly is in session.

Jahara also hit out at the state for allegedly showing favouritism when taking action against illegal businesses.

She said while small-time traders faced enforcement, illegal restaurants on Pantai Bersih in Butterworth continued to operate despite numerous notices issued to them to clear out.

“This is why we say the state’s CAT is a failure,” said Penang’s first woman opposition leader.

Farid urged Penangites to do what was right in the 14th general election and “save Penang from DAP”.

“CAT is dead. There is no transparency and credibility. Save Penang,” he said. – May 25, 2017.