All eyes on graft-busters’ investigation
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A question on everyone’s lips is whether an elected representative in the DAP-led state government is not allowed to speak up and champion the people’s plight, as in the case of Norlela.
Where is the competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) policy which the state government had been advocating? No wonder, many had claimed that “CAT was long dead and buried”.
Norlela, who is now treading a lonely path, had indicated that she would not seek re-election after losing confidence in her party.
She had been disheartened by the attacks and unfortunately, her family members, too, had not been spared from the harassment.
Although the state government had come forward on numerous occasions to douse the fiery storms over the issue, many people are not buying excuses that led to its failure to act against the illegal factory.
They are unconvinced by the state government’s move to declassify meeting minutes concerning the factory two years ago, which is just a “show and tell” measure on “efforts” it had taken against the illegal setup.
They are also finding it hard to understand the rationale behind the two letters written by Phee to the Seberang Prai Municipal Council — the first in 2015 and the second last year — with instructions to put on hold any action against the factory, despite 11 of the 500 villagers having been found to have developed cancer.
And the people are not stopping short at Phee, who by the way is no longer his usual outspoken self as noticed by newsmen who covered his press conferences.
Questions are being asked on whether the state government is protecting any party, with concerns being raised on the contents of a Department of Environment (DoE) letter, which had urged the local council to take action against the factory.
Penangites also want the state government to come clean on the case of a lorry driver, who had fallen into one of the 31 sawdust burning pits and died on May 6, 2015.
May his soul rest in peace.
Most importantly, they demand to know why the state government is willing to side with the illegal factory despite the risks it poses to the people.
There has been no satisfactory answers from the state government to the queries posed. Rather, more and more concerns are cropping up.
And recently, an open letter on the Sungai Lembu factory scandal has found its way into social media.
Written by Daniel Goh, who described himself as a concerned citizen of Malaysia, the letter was addressed to the prime minister, the attorney-general (A-G) and the inspector-general of police (IGP).
Goh wrote that while the country observed the rule of law and its due process, sometimes when the lives and health of hundreds of innocent citizens were adversely affected, it would not be inappropriate for the government to intervene and ensure a speedy resolution of investigations without undue interference from institutions or individuals, who were parties to the investigations.
“I am referring to the case of the sawmill dust factory, which has been operating illegally in Kampung Sungai Lembu for the last 10 years, and has... afflicted countless... citizens with cancer.
“Due to the urgency and the severity of the matter, it is my sincere hope that the prime minister, the A-G or IGP will take charge of the investigations to ensure that justice prevail, and the innocent citizens of Sungai Lembu are given their fair and rightful voice, bearing in mind that the (alleged) perpetrators and accomplices of this crime are not ordinary citizens, but public officials...”
Controversies surrounding the illegal factory continue with fresh allegations, with “state government documents” being leaked on the blog www.thethirdforce.net.
With no signs of abating, all eyes will be on the graft-busters’ probe into the illegal factory and its outcome.
Hopefully, the people will ultimately get the answers they are searching for.