‘We are open to discussions’
> Penang govt offers olive branch to Penang Forum over floods, landslide issues
GEORGE TOWN: The state government has extended an olive branch to the Penang Forum despite the latter’s harsh criticism of the state’s handling of floods and landslides in recent months.
State Housing Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo ( pix) said the state practises an open-door policy where everyone can come and interact with the authorities if they have good intentions to help Penang.
“The state has been listening to ratepayers and civil societies since 2008, nothing has changed and the state will continue to listen, and it is not because the general election is near,” Jagdeep said at a press conference.
He urged the civil societies under the Penang Forum umbrella to forward their suggestions to him on how best to address floods and landslides in the state.
“We welcome their input but it hurts, if there are insinuations that we have neglected or forsaken in our duties in mitigating the floods and landslides. We are often at the scene.
“It hurts us the most when it floods as our constituents suffer. I even have a book to check on the flow of the tides and when it rains heavily, I (sometimes) have difficulties sleeping as I am afraid that floods will recur,” said Jagdeep.
He said the Penang Forum is welcomed to work with the state government to jointly tackle the ill effects of flooding and landslides.
A member of the forum’s steering committee, Datuk Agatha Foo, had suggested that the laws be amended to make the developers think twice about compromising the environment.
She suggested that the developers be subjected to imprisonment if they defy the guidelines imposed to safeguard the environment.
Her associate, Dr Kam Suan Pheng, urged the state government to heed the climate change effects where rainfalls are heavier compared to the past decades.
It may cause more flooding and hillside erosion, she stressed.