Road ‘not good enough’

CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng has come under fire for misleading the public that his administration had built an alternative road Jalan Bagan 29 for motorists to avoid paying 50 sen toll at the Sungai Nyior toll plaza in Butterworth.

Bagan MCA Youth chief David Chua said the former Barisan Nasional state government had built the alternative road Jalan Todak which connected Chai Leng Park and Seberang Jaya even before Pakatan Rakyat came into power in Penang.

“If the state is sincere in wanting to provide a proper alternative road, it should then build a parallel road next to the toll plaza.

“Jalan Bagan 29 in Taman Bagan is merely a service road that connects Jalan Siram and Jalan Bagan 1,” he told reporters at Taman Bagan in Butterworth yesterday.

Chua was commenting on the statement by Guan Eng during Saturday’s debate with MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek that the state had built an alternative road for motorists to avoid paying toll in Sungai Nyior.

■Making a point: Chua (left) with Bagan MCA deputy chairman Sum Yoo Keong discussing the map of Jalan Bagan 29 along the road in Butterworth, Penang.

He also claimed the DAP had failed to keep a pledge before the 2008 general election to abolish the Sungai Nyior toll col- lection.

“A posting on the DAP website dated Feb 25, 2007, quoted party leader Ng Wei Aik as saying that the Sungai Nyior toll would be abolished if Pakatan wins a parliamentary seat and four state seats, including the Prai seat, in the March 2008 general election,” he said.

Asked if MCA would recommend to the Federal Government for the toll collection to be abolished, Chua said the Federal Government had already intervened to reduce the toll rate from RM1 to 50 sen.

“The Federal Government is presently subsidising the remaining 50 sen in toll charges to the concession holder,” he said.

Chua also said the state spent RM5.7mil on the 1.5km-long Jalan Bagan 29, which he claimed was underutilised, noting that fewer than 500 people live on Jalan Siram.

“Most of the buildings on Jalan Siram are shophouses, apart from a Hindu cemetery near the Jalan Siram-Jalan Telaga Air junction,” he said.

Meanwhile, state Public Works, Utilities and Transport Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said the state government was willing to consider building an alternative road next to the toll plaza provided it was consented by the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government must give us a guarantee that the concession holder overseeing toll collection in Sungai Nyior will not claim compensation from us for causing traffic ‘leakage’ along the stretch,” he said.

Hock Seng said the state was looking at the possibility of connecting Jalan Todak in Seberang Jaya with the Jalan Bagan 1-Jalan Bagan 29 junction via a flyover at an estimated cost of RM35mil.

Ng could not be reached for comment.

The Star
Tuesday February 21, 2012
By DERRICK VINESH

Warm reception

By DERRICK VINESH

TRADERS and shoppers at the Apollo Market along Jalan Raja Uda snapped up 1,500 units of the biodegradable bags in less than 30 minutes when the Penang Barisan Nasional members began distributing the items during their walkabout in Bagan, Butterworth.

Penang Barisan Nasional working committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said the overwhelming response caught many of the coalition leaders by surprise.

“The response from the people in the Bagan parliamentary constituency was encouraging. They also opened up to us about some of the problems that they face,” he said after leading a group of about 50 Barisan members to the market yesterday.

■ Handy gifts: Dr Teng (in blue, second right) with Gerakan vice-chairman Ong Thean Lye (right), Chua (second left) and Sungai Puyu Barisan Nasional coordinator Sum Yoo Keong (fourth right) distributing the bags at Apollo Market.

Dr Teng, who is also the Penang Gerakan chairman, said some of the traders voiced their concerns about the poorly maintained infrastructure at the market.

He said the market had been in existence for nearly 60 years but there was no improvement done to make it more comfortable for the traders and shoppers alike.

A spokesperson for the traders, Ong Kim Seah, said the 500 members there hoped that the Seberang Prai Municipal Council could repair the leaking roofs, clean up clogged drains and reduce traffic congestion.

“We hope the state will allow us to continue trading here and we also hope the Federal Government will help us obtain funds to improve the infrastructure at the market,” he said.

During festive seasons, the number of traders there would increase to above 700.

Barisan’s Bagan parliamentary constituency co-ordinator David Chua said many poor residents living in state government-owned flat units here were finding it hard to settle their monthly rent.

“There seems to be no proper mechanism in place to help the needy in Bagan despite Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng being its Member of Parliament,” he said.

Chua, who is also the Bagan MCA division Youth head, said the state government’s annual RM100 aid to the senior citizens had good intentions but it did not serve any real purpose because the blanket disbursement also reached those who did not need the money such as the rich elderly folks.

“It is a case of not spending wisely. The needy should be given priority instead. There are also several squatter issues here such as in Jalan Telaga Air, Jalan Siram and Raja Uda. The problem remains unresolved,” he said.

Penang MIC chairman Datuk P.K. Subbaiyah said there was hardly any development taking shape in Bagan.

Chua tells PDC to submit report to Lim, not Dr Ng

★ from left to right : Tang Heap Seng, David Chua Teik Siang and Sum Yoo Keong

BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Development Corporation (PDC) should submit the report on the controversial RM5mil ‘Kancil car park’ to its chairman Lim Guan Eng and not to Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Bagan MCA Youth chief David Chua said PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar should follow protocol and submit it to his boss, Lim, who is also the chief minister.

“Rosli does not report to the tourism minister. What is the rational in submitting to her (Dr Ng) and what sort of protocol is this?” questioned Chua.

He also questioned the sincerity of Lim, who claimed that he was not informed about the project.

Chua said this at a press conference at the Bagan MCA office at Kampung Bengali here yesterday.

Also present were state MCA vice chairman Tang Heap Seng and Bagan MCA vice-chairman Sum Yoo Keong.

Chua was responding to the article ‘PDC to submit Kancil car park report to Yen Yen’ published yesterday.

Chua, who said Lim should make a stand, questioned his refusal to elaborate on the matter.

He also urged Lim to set up a committee to investigate the matter and reveal its outcome without further delay.

Tang, who is the Bukit Bendera MCA chief and a civil engineer by profession, said the enquiries about the project started in 2009/2010.

He said the project was forced to be delayed after rocks were found embedded in the ground during foundation work.

The allocation for the project was approved in 2007 while the structural and layout plans were submitted to the Penang Municipal Council in 2009.

Tang said the media has been reporting the matter since 2009 and until today, there has been no response from Lim.

“Lim will only respond if the matter is to his favour and if it is not, he will not respond,” he said.

U-turn on eviction plan

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Government has backed down and softened its stand against residents of the Taman Bagan Jaya flats in Butterworth who have not settled their rental arrears.

State Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai assured residents that their flats would not be repossessed by the state Housing Depart-ment.

Bagan Barisan Nasional co-ordinator David Chua – who had highlighted to the state government that more than 20 families, including a blind man and a single mother, had been given an ultimatum to settle their arrears or have their flats repossessed by Thursday – welcomed the news.

★In high spirits: Chua (back row, centre) posing with some of the families at the Taman Bagan Jaya flats in Butterworth yesterday.

“The residents can now sleep peacefully,” he said.

“The housing department officials should have come down to talk to these people and find ways to solve the problems,” he said when visiting the residents here yesterday.

Also present was Sungai Puyu BN coordinator Sum Yoo Keong.

“I call on the state government to put a stop to such cruel acts and politics of arrogance,” said Chua, who is also the Bagan MCA Youth chief.

Visually-impaired Fadzil Mohd Hassan, 61, who owes RM5,300 in rental, said he was thankful to Allah for not having to leave his home.

“I am so happy. A thousand thanks to the MCA especially David Chua for highlighting my position.

“I am already old and blind and the department wanted me to find the money within a week,” he said.

Single mother Roshimah Ishak, 48, who was asked to settle RM4,500 in arrears, said she was worried the state government might come after her when things cooled down.

Wong said counselling and interview sessions would be held for the affected residents to assess their financial status.

“They will not be evicted. We will also help them with their problems,” he said after launching a health awareness programme at Desa Mawar Community Hall in Jalan Thean Teik, Bandar Baru Air Itam, yesterday.

Blind man and single mother may lose homes

BUTTERWORTH: A blind man and a single mother have been told to pay their rental arrears by next Thursday or have their flats at Taman Bagan Jaya here repossessed by the State Housing Department.

Fadzil Mohd Hassan, 61, who became blind 13 years ago and who owes the housing department RM5,300 in rental arrears, claimed he received a call from the department at about 11.30am on Thursday.

★Helpless: Fadzil at his home in Taman Bagan Jaya. He has been given seven days to settle his rental arrears by the Penang State Housing Department.
“They are giving me seven days to settle my arrears and if I fail to settle the amount, I will be forced to vacate the unit,” he said.

Fadzil alleged that the caller refused to accept his plea when he asked for some time to settle the dues as he was seeking assistance from Bagan Barisan Nasional coordinator David Chua.

“My wife has high blood pressure and does part-time jobs.

“We have three children including two schoolgoing kids,” he added at a press conference.

Single mother Roshimah Ishak, 48, claimed that she received a call from the department to settle the rental arrears amounting to RM4,500 within a week.

“I became jobless after a forklift's tyre rolled over my feet several years ago,” said the mother of two children, aged 17 and 25.

“I now wonder about the sincerity of the state government which claims to be a caring government,” she said.

Both Fadzil and Roshimah sought Chua's help when he visited the Taman Bagan Jaya public housing project on Thursday.

Chua, who is also Bagan MCA Youth chairman, called on Penang Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai to help such people.

from The Star

Widow and disabled man face eviction by state govt

BUTTERWORTH: Soon to be evicted from a public housing project, widow Rokiah Md Isa cuts a pitiful sight.

The 74-year-old is worried sick about her unit being repossessed by the State Housing Department.

“I have been living here since the Taman Bagan Jaya public housing project was completed five years ago.

“My husband passed away in 2008 and the department sent me a notice in March, telling me that I cannot stay here any more.

“I was shocked. Where will I go if I’m evicted?” she said at her home here yesterday.

Rokiah, who receives RM250 wang zakat monthly, has fallen behind on her rent payments. She owes RM1,188 in arrears.

The state housing authorities issued her a letter dated March 17 to move out within 15 days. They have yet to enforce the notice.

Bagan Barisan Nasional coordinator David Chua, who was also present, urged the state government to give Rokiah and other tenants like her a chance to pay up before considering repossession of the units.

“It is not that she doesn’t want to pay but she cannot afford to. We cannot just throw her out.

“While we understand that the public housing project is not for single occupancy, Rokiah should be exempted from this rule because she was actually living here with her family before the children moved out and her husband passed away.

“If rental is the issue, give her some time to work it out,” said Chua, who is also the Bagan MCA Youth division chief.

Disabled labourer Mohd Radzi Othman, 39, was told to move out because he was married to a foreigner.

He claimed that he did not owe any rental arrears.

“I rushed to the department after receiving the eviction notice and was told that my unit would be repossessed because my wife is an Indonesian,” said the father of two who lost his arm in an accident.

Chua said Rokiah and Mohd Radzi were just two of some 20 residents who were worried about losing their flats.

On Tuesday, Penang Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the state government had repossessed 154 flat units in eight public housing projects since last year after their tenants breached the tenancy terms and conditions.
from The Star.Metro

Plant closure cast in stone

THE Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) has assured residents in Kampung Bagan Dalam, Butterworth that a nearby cement batching plant would be shut down.

The assurance was given during a meeting held between the representatives from the residents and the municipal councillors at the MPSP headquarters recently.

Councillor Ahmad Farid Md Arshad said the council never gave any approval to the plant operator.

“The Department of Environment (DOE) also did not approve of its operations,” Ahmad Farid said.

It was issued a stop work order in September last year while the Department of Environment (DOE) also did not approve of its operations, Ahmad Farid added.

He said the water supply at the plant was also disconnected after the stop work order was issued.

“We have also told the operator to remove all raw materials from the site and not to bring in any materials. Only security guards are supposed to man the site,” said Ahmad Farid after the meeting.

Barisan Nasional Bagan parliamentary coordinator David Chua was also present.

Ahmad Farid said that MPSP would continue to monitor the site.

Ridzuan Md Zain, who represented the residents, said the plant should not be operating at a residential area which also houses a school, a mosque and a temple.

On Jan 17, it was reported that several residents in Kampung Bagan Dalam were appealing to the authorities to relocate the plant, which they claimed was causing pollution.

The plant, which underwent trial runs in September last year, was located just 50m from their houses.

The DOE in a letter to the residents concurred that it was inappropriate to build a plant in a housing area.


News from : The Star.Metro.2011 Mac 3