Penang mired in endless controversies

Audrey Dermawan, NST

IT is often said, these days, that Penang is never free of controversy. The latest to rock the DAP-led state administration is what some netizens term the “on-off-on-off-on-go-slow project” or the “flip flop flip project”, a reference to the proposed Penang undersea tunnel.

The controversy came about after the company, which was awarded the RM6.3 billion contract to build the undersea tunnel and three road bypasses project off Gurney Drive, told a press conference two Tuesdays ago that the state government had instructed it to stop the feasibility study for the project about a month ago without giving any reasons.

This was confirmed by state Public Works, Utility and Transport Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng in a WhatsApp reply to a Penang-based journalist the same night. This was what he wrote: “Yes we told them to on hold the feasibility study until we get reply from federal govt on the application of 3rd bridge.”

Barely 24 hours later, the company did an about-turn and said there was no such directive from the state government. Its top man apologising for the “flip flop”, citing the fasting month as the reason. Even Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was at the same press conference, said there was no such instruction.

When Hock Seng was asked to clarify the matter, he said the feasibility study was on but it would “go slow slow”. He refused to dwell further on the project and asked people to refer to Guan Eng instead, which explains how the “on-off-on-off-on-go-slow” and “flip flop flip” came about.

Wait a minute. There’s something fishy here. After all, it was Hock Seng who had been answering the barrage of questions from Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan about the tunnel project on numerous occasions, even though they were initially directed at Guan Eng. So, why the sudden change in tune?

This administration must come clean and explain what is really going on or risk compromising its credibility. Or, worse still, give credence to the perception that this administration is run by “one man”. Indeed, more and more people are raising questions about the tunnel project and other decisions made by the state government. What’s more, three parcels of state land would be given to the company as part of a land swap deal.

Land has always been a contentious issue in this state, especially because there is an acute shortage of it. Any land, it has often been argued, should be used for the maximum benefit of the general public and not only a select group. How then can the state government guarantee that the three pieces of land will benefit the people at large?

Take it from acting Penang Gerakan Youth chief Jason Loo Jieh Sheng. A total of 23 questions have been sent to him on Facebook, demanding answers on the tunnel project. It looks like Loo will not get the answers anytime soon as Hock Seng did not turn up for a scheduled debate on the tunnel project on June 11. Loo also did not manage to meet Hock Seng at his office a few days later although the latter was in at the time.

“Who is Jason? He is not my level,” Hock Seng had said. He chided Loo for pulling “cheap publicity” stunts, adding “everyone knows he is doing this to gain political mileage, so that he will be picked as a candidate in the next general election”.

Loo had applied to view all documents pertaining to the undersea tunnel and three paired roads project under the state government’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. His application is pending. The much-publicised FOI has courted controversy previously. Applicants are required to sign a statutory declaration to obtain documents and it is up to the state government to decide whether to hand over the documents. It is an offence to talk about the documents or give them to a third party.

After coming under heavy criticism over this, the state government recently decided that the documents could be used for any reason, particularly those related to public interest, with the exception of commercial exploitation. The people can’t be faulted for harping on the tunnel project. They have every right to the information. They have been told one thing one day and something else the next day. The most notable example is the “on-off-on-off-on-go-slow” or “flipflop flip” episode.

Surely, the state government does not expect the people to just accepting everything that it says. After eight years, the people have wised up. They no longer fear the threat of getting sued for speaking up or questioning the state authorities.

For instance, Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-chairman Datuk Huan Cheng Guan, who is facing a defamation suit from the company, said he would not be cowed and would continue to speak up.

“It is my right as a politician and Penangite to ask about the mega project. Let me remind the state government about the billions of ringgit worth of public funds and state land (payment to the company via land swap) that you are giving,” he said. “Let me also remind you that this is not your father’s land, as said by (Chief Minister) Lim (Guan Eng).”

In the latest development, Hock Seng has accepted the challenge to debate Gerakan secretary-general Liang Teck Meng on the tunnel project next week. This is after he had refused to debate, saying he did not know who Liang was. It will be interesting to see how the state government responds to the numerous questions repeatedly asked on the project. We can only hope that it will not end up as another case of “beating around the bush”.

The time is more than ripe for Guan Eng and his administration to set aside their egos and arrogance and return to the roots of their struggle — to be a people-oriented government and to serve the people well. Let your guard down once in a while and accept criticisms graciously.