PENANG’S BROKEN PROMISES
BN rep says state govt has not fulfilled 51 promises
EVER wondered how many times the DAP-led Penang government has gone back on its word? Not once, or twice, or thrice. Barisan Nasional Pulau Betong assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Farid Saad revealed at the recently concluded State Legislative Assembly sitting that the state government had broken 51 promises it had made to the people since it came into power in 2008.
There were nine broken promises in 2008, seven in 2009, three in 2010, four in 2011, five in 2012, 11 in 2013, four in 2014, five in 2015 and three last year.
The promises?
Weeks after assuming power, the state government announced that it was mulling building a subway system as a long-term solution to its traffic and flooding problem, instead of the elevated monorail project mooted by the Federal Government.
Many had envied Penangites then, likening the proposed rail to London’s Underground. It was said that it would cost more than Klang Valley’s light rail transit (LRT) and monorail projects combined, and would take five years to complete. Nine years have passed — the ambitious plan remains a mere announcement.
On Nov 11 that same year, there was another announcement that Aerobus International Inc, the designer and operator of the aerobus transport system, had recommended that the state government adopt the system as a solution to the perennial traffic woes.
At that time, Aerobus Malaysia had said the system was far cheaper and more efficient than the LRT or monorail to solve the traffic problem in Penang.
The state government had even handed a letter to Aerobus International to conduct feasibility studies and submit a report in two months for consideration. That was the first and probably the last time anyone heard about the Aerobus concept. Nothing since.
Days after the administration celebrated its first year in power, it announced plans to open a tiger park at the Relau Community Park to attract more tourists.
The greenery of the 40ha park was said to be a good place for Malaysia’s first tiger park. Again, nothing.
Other broken promises Farid mentioned included the failure by the chief minister and his state executive council members to declare their assets annually (they’ve only done so twice in nine years), failure to gazette Pulau Jerejak as a permanent forest reserve since 2009, and failure to solve the flooding woes and address worsening traffic problems.
Farid also questioned what happened to the Wet World Wild Adventure Park in Batu Ferringhi, which was touted as Asia’s first open sea water park in 2013, the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Enactment the same year (Penang Gerakan failed to apply for any document through the enactment after 20 trials), the cable car project, the special lane for buses (under the 2014 state budget) or even the Skycab.
Penang opposition leader Datuk Jahara Hamid said with the 51 broken promises, BN had succeeded in proving that the state government’s often-preached “competency, accountability and transparency” (CAT) mantra was dead.
This was, however, disputed by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, who said the state government’s CAT policy was not dead, as it had fulfilled other promises.
Chief minister-designate Chow Kon Yeow had described as unfair 10 of the broken promises related to his portfolio in traffic and public transportation. He said efforts had been taken by the state to resolve the issues.
Penangites are not blindly accepting the state government’s defence anymore. Many have taken to social media to voice out against what they regard as the “incompetent” state administration. With the way things are moving in Penang, it looks like broken promises may be the “hallmark” of the state government.
Indeed, Penangites are getting restless and fed up with the numerous lies and broken promises. Many are even threatening to teach this administration a lesson through the ballot box. But, that remains to be seen.
With the way things are moving in Penang, it looks like broken promises may be the ‘hallmark’ of the state government.