Guan Eng admits nothing was done to help long-suffering villagers
POLLUTION FROM ILLEGAL CARBON FILTER FACTORY IN SUNGAI LEMBU
CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng yesterday admitted that nothing was done to help the Sungai Lembu villagers despite numerous complaints about the illegal carbon filter factory in their backyard.
However, in his trademark fashion, the Penang chief minister also shifted the blame to the previous Barisan Nasional administration.
Lim also apologised to the villagers of Sungai Lembu for not taking any action against the illegal factory, despite numerous complaints by the villagers as well as Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin.
“I do not deny that the (state government’s) policy affects Sungai Lembu as the factory was built before 2008... we inherited the Sungai Lembu illegal factory from the BN government.
“I also do not deny it surely has a negative effect on the residents.
“I apologise on behalf of the state government over the policy if it has brought trouble to the villagers,” he said here yesterday.
Lim also apologised to hawkers and owners of premises who were unhappy over the demolition actions taken by the state government.
“But, we have to enforce the state government’s policy, which is carried out consistently.
“There are quarters who asked why certain buildings were demolished, but they did not reveal that the structures demolished were set up after 2008 and those not demolished were set up before 2008.
“We have no discrimination... we only enforced the existing policy, and for this policy, I apologise if it had caused trouble to certain parties,” he said.
Lim had reportedly said illegal structures or hawker stalls set up before 2008 would not be demolished.
He had said that the state government would instead find other solutions, including legalising the premises, so that the matter could be settled amicably.
“The policy to maintain all illegal structures set up before 2008 is, however, conditional on the fact that the structures are not disrupting traffic and disturbing the people.
“If they do, then we will take action,” he said,.
Lim also asked BN if the coalition agreed with the state government’s policy.
It was reported that state Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) after the graft busters and other government agencies raided an illegal carbon filter factory in Sungai Lembu last Thursday.
The raid came after repeated complaints against the factory operations fell on deaf ears.
Phee was arrested the following day and remanded to facilitate investigations into the matter.
Also detained was the factory’s 70-year-old manager and his 37year-old son, the factory’s director. All three have since been released from remand.