After Tg Piai, Penang DAP should test its support in a re-election

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 18 Nov 2019 11:00AM · 4 Comments

WE have to find out the real reasons, do a post-mortem and take appropriate action to address the problem, said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow at a press conference yesterday.

The Penang DAP government, responding to criticism by civil society of its developer-initiated  development projects has always been snobbishly saying a huge number of Penangites (about 90% who voted for them) agreed with its environment-destroying, developer-friendly projects, such as the Penang South Reclamation.

To “prove” this, it stooped very low to get “support” for its transport master plan that includes reclaiming three islands totalling 4,500 acres from the rich fishing grounds south of the island by putting up public display booths of the project and asking people to answer three leading questions.

The majority of Penangites are ignorant of the details of the projects and the effects they will have on the environment and ecology of the Island.

These people can be easily mesmerised by beautiful pictures and models of the projects. They can thus be influenced to feel “proud” that Penang will have this and that (e.g. the only undersea tunnel in this part of the world) and answer the questions to support projects the negative effects of which they understand nothing about.

Such a survey is fraudulent to say the least, but the state government is unashamedly carrying it out to fraudulently show it has the support of large numbers of Penangites.  

It claims to have the support of about 90% of Penangites who voted for it because they know that “the government knows best what is good for Penang and Penangites”.

After Tg Piai, does the Penang DAP government still hold firmly that the 90% of Penangites who voted for it, gave it a blank cheque to do what “it feels is best for them” without paying any heed to the voices of civil society that have very good or even excellent reasons to object to some of the projects?

For example, the Penang South Reclamation project is going to destroy in perpetuity a very rich sea-food producing area.

This fact is stated by the agriculture ministry, not by some uninformed persons.

Scientists are warning that by 2050 this planet is going to face a food crisis, besides rising sea levels due to climate change.

The Penang government however, doesn’t care about food security, it is more concerned about helping developers to make money so that Penang’s economy “grows” impressively.

If the Penang state government feels that civil society is not relevant, that the 90% or so voters who voted for it are fully supportive of those projects, then it should take a very bold step by dissolving itself and going back to the voters to confirm the massive support of Penangites that it claims it has.

Call it a re-election of the state government or a referendum, but do it to prove the level of support it has today.

The very same DAP members who were speaking in defence of the fragile environment of Penang when they were in the opposition are today, when in power, speaking for the destruction of that same environment.

They are delusional if they think that they are voted in to do anything they like.

So, dissolve the state assembly and test the support to see whether it is just as strong, or even stronger with all the mega projects being shoved on Penangites who will have to pay for them for many, many generations to come.

This will be the best post-mortem of Tg Piai. – November 18, 2019.

* Ravinder Singh reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.

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Comments

  • The voters voted for whoever they voted for to do the job and not to waste tax payers money and voters time every so often to test their support. Finish out their mandate and after the next GE, we will know what the voters think of their last 5 years in power.

    Posted 6 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • DAP, PKR and Amanah perform alright, not to worry too much.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • No development has zero impact to the environment, lets remember this. Important thing environment assessment must be carried out to see the impact short and long term. ObjeCt objectively, which impact is unbearable and damage is too huge to digest. Tell the state govt exactly and specifically with good reasons and rational thinking. If your argument is strong and acceptable, govt will listen. The only problem is those who objected are pure environmentalists, want zero impact, dreaming expectation. Those farmers, fishermen are just tools of politicians to magnify things and issues. What so they know about environmental impacts? Assess the benefits and negative impacts simultaneously and debate critically with fact and figures plus professional standard and data. Sure u all can come to consensus. Problem is u guys from both divides don't focus on the problem objectively and cohesively. As though u guys are in war. No, No. Set the common goals to achieve public accepted purpose. Then set a forum and argue out objectively,critically and specifically. Sure the public will benefits from the results of changes to the thorough discussion widely and deeply. U buggers got the heart to do things professionally or NOT?

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Are you nostalgic of the times when Penangnites can swim "nude" at "Kilat"?

    Or like my grandfather used to reminiscences of the times he ......

    .... paid "tiga kupang" to dance "ronggeng" with nubile Malay girls onstage at New World Park

    .... sheepishly watched Rose Chan's striptease with "that blady lucky" python (how he wished he was that python!)

    .... bought grossly inflated "black market" cinema tickets to watch "Fanny Hill" and other softcore films

    .... etc

    As an ex-Penangite (I am no longer a resident), I had come to accept one cannot stop over crowding residential, commercial and infrastructure development due to Penang's population explosion.

    But one can still have "wild" parties (with girls, of course!) in bungalows at the hills. Enjoy it before its gone forever.

    Cheers! (on Carlsberg, Anchor .................

    Posted 6 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply