Norlela a thorn in Pakatan’s side

Wan Azizah’s plan to juggle two posts hits a snag with PKR rep’s litany of woes

(NST) – Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s assurance to look after Permatang Pauh should Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail win the by-election may have been made to allay concerns on her ability to juggle between her other duty as the Kajang assemblyman.

However, the frustration vented by PKR Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin on the goings-on in the constituency, one of the three state seats in Permatang Pauh, may warrant the voters to question the DAP-led state government’s commitment in delivering the promise.

Norlela, a first-term assemblyman, did not hide her frustration when her move to table five motions at the state legislative assembly, among others to resolve land clearing and the setting up illegal factories issues in the constituency, was shot down.

A day before the state assembly convened its meeting last Thursday, Norlela had sent an email blast to all 45 Penang lawmakers urging them to support her cause.

Norlela said she had also uploaded documents of the motions on her Facebook page to raise support from the public on her efforts to resolve unscrupulous land clearing and the setting up of illegal factories in her constituency, which led to pollution and flash floods.

She told the New Straits Times yesterday that her motions to raise the issue at the state assembly, however, were snubbed thrice since last year. She had filed five motions to be deliberated but they were not included without any reason.

“The plan was for the motions to be approved by the House for further action by the State Planning Committee (headed by Lim). I do not understand why all my motions were rejected for the third time.

“For the first two submissions, it was said they could not be approved due to technicalities. But this time around (before filing for the third time), I had even consulted the chief minister’s officers to ensure they were filed according to the format and legal terms.

“I am very frustrated because I have done a comprehensive study and did the ground work to assess the problems.”

In the email made available to the NST, she detailed the land clearing in Mukim 18, Sungai Lembu and the establishment of three illegal factories in Penanti as the main cause of flash floods.

She had proposed the planting of cover crops, a new drainage system in Sungai Lembu, where 2ha out of 26ha of private land earmarked for an agricultural project had been cleared.

Norlela said the plot of land and hill slopes were designated as Lot 355, 376, 390, 393, 458, 478, 479, 740, 741, 742, 1066, and 1067, under Mukim 18. However the project’s date of commencement was not specified.

“The clearing had caused mud floods at the hill slopes of Sungai Lembu on Oct 14 last year. Such an incident had never occurred before.

“During this year’s first parliamentary session, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, to a question, had referred to the Environmental Act which disallows agricultural activities at hill slopes of more than 25 degrees to prevent floods.”

On the illegal factories, Norlela expressed grave concern as the factories had not adhered to the standards set by the Department of Environment, especially on waste discharge procedures. She said pollution from factories had affected the health and living environment of locals.

“I urge the state planning committee to authorise Seberang Prai Municipal Council to take immediate action against such factories. They were built without planning permission.

“In Penanti alone, we have three illegal factories that had adversely affected the locals and the environment.”

She said there was a tin ore factory in Kubang Ulu and a carbon filter factory in Sungai Lembu that had caused health issues among the locals. Meanwhile in Tanah Liat, the setting up of a factory had caused flash floods at a nearby village.

“These factories began operating between three and 10 years ago. While the local government has taken these cases to court, the process will take years while the nearby residents continue to suffer.

“That is why I am pushing for the state legislative assembly to approve the motions that I filed so that we can grant the local authorities the power to carry out swift enforcement against the errant parties.”