Guan Eng: I didn’t know about DoE letter to council, Norlela

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has denied any knowledge of a Department of Environment (DoE) letter issued to a local council and Penanti assemblyman, following an investigation into the Sungai Lembu illegal carbon filter factory.

Lim, who was asked to respond to Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin’s questions on why the letter was not released to the public, said: “I do not know what she is saying.

“What was revealed by (state Environment Committee chairman) Phee (Boon Poh) was about the illegal detainment by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

“This (about the letter), you have to ask Phee,” he said at a press conference in his office at Komtar here yesterday.

On Wednesday, Norlela questioned the state government on why it had left out other information on the Sungai Lembu illegal factory during its two press conferences on the matter.

In a Facebook post, she asked the state government why it did not show DoE’s letter, signed by the director, which was issued after investigations on the factory, and sent to her and the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP).

“Why did MPSP send a notice informing me that the factory would be demolished, based on the letter by DoE, even after the meeting?

“Why was the state DoE director not at the press conference today and yesterday to answer why DoE had sealed up the factory, if it was not dangerous and polluting the environment?”

Her questions came in the wake of press conferences by Lim and Phee on Monday and Tuesday.

At the press conferences, Lim released MPSP meeting minutes, dated May 6, 2015, to show the state government had taken action against the illegal factory.

Lim had said that the meeting minutes were disclosed to show that Phee had performed his duty as an executive council member in charge of the environment.

The minutes had revealed that DoE had found no pollution at the factory, as it had barriers that prevented smoke and dust from escaping.

However, it also stated that DoE would support the factory’s operations only if it carried out the sawdust burning in an enclosed area using safety equipment.

On Wednesday, at a press conference at Komtar, Lim and Phee gave out the meeting minutes again, emphasising DoE’s comments.

Norlela had said she was present at the meeting two years ago.

“Ask everyone at the meeting whether I had condoned it, or fought and objected to the state executive councillors (Phee) request to give a three-year extension to the illegal factory that had been operating for 10 years.”

On Aug 10, MACC and other agencies raided the factory, after complaints from residents on the pollution caused by the smoke fumes emitted from the 31 open sawdust burning pits at the site.

The raid was followed by other raids at the MPSP’s Licensing Department office as well as on Phee’s office at Komtar and service centre and two houses on the mainland.

He was arrested by MACC, along with the 70-yearold factory manager and his 37year-old son, a director.

Phee, who was present at the press conference today, kept mum on the letter, and said the state government was now going to villagers to give an explanation.

“We met the village security and development committee members, including the chairman, secretary and treasurer, yesterday.

“They were not told of the meeting minutes or of a district action committee meeting minutes. We showed it to them.

“I told them if they had any problems, they could come to me,” he said.

Coached by Lim, Phee added that this was to prevent any misunderstanding.

What was revealed by (state Environment Committee chairman) Phee (Boon Poh) was about the illegal detainment by MACC. This (about the letter), you have to ask Phee. LIM GUAN ENG Penang chief minister