‘DAP MP HAS GONE INCOMMUNICADO’
Lim says he has not been able to reach veteran party leader
AUDREY DERMAWAN AND ARFA YUNUS GEORGE TOWN audreymd@nst.com.my
CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng yesterday said veteran DAP leader Dr Tan Seng Giaw has gone “incommunicado” since early this year. Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said this when commenting on Dr Tan’s complaint over the changing coastline and diminishing greenery in Balik Pulau.
Speaking at his office in Komtar here, Lim said he had not been able to reach the Kepong member of parliament since early this year.
“He has been incommunicado. We will deal with it (what Dr Tan had said) internally. “You are not a party member. “If yes, I will tell you,” Lim said when pressed further.
Lim also denied Dr Tan’s claims that Penang’s greenery was diminishing.
Lim said statistics obtained from the Forestry Department showed that no one had touched “an inch” of Penang’s permanent forest reserve in the last 10 years.
“We have not touched even a single inch of our permanent forest reserve. We are indeed very green.
“As such, it is not right to say that our greenery is diminishing.
“Many people have misunderstood the ongoing road work project in Jalan Bukit Kukus and Jalan Paya Terubong, heading into Balik Pulau.
“Of course, the hill slope there will be affected but not the permanent forest reserve. We still maintain the lush greenery.
“I hope our critics, particularly MCA, will not dispute the state’s commitment to protect and preserve the greenery.”
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Dr Tan recounted what he had witnessed during a drive in Balik Pulau.
“Going around Penang island today, we find the coast is changing, and Balik Pulau is less green. The population of 850,000 require houses and employment. The priority is to preserve the forest and the greenery.”
Following Dr Tan’s posting, state MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said the senior DAP leader’s comments should not be taken lightly.
We have not touched even a single inch of our permanent forest reserve. We are indeed very green. LIM GUAN ENG Penang chief minister