BN, PKR reps in rare show of unity

> Assemblymen come together to attend Penang Forum dialogue on flooding, landslides

GEORGE TOWN: In a rare show of unity, both Barisan Nasional (BN) and PKR elected representatives sat together in the Teow Chew Association Temple here to digest the presentation from Penang Forum on the causes and remedies for flooding and landslides.

The event was prompted by last week’s landslide in Lengkok Lembah Permai in Tanjung Bungah where 11 construction workers, including a 27year-old Malaysian site supervisor, were buried alive.

BN was represented by state opposition leader Datuk Jahara Hamid and Pulau Betong assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Farid Saad, while PKR’s Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin sat beside Jahara in the session.

Other PKR elected representatives who attended were Bayan Baru MP and PKR strategic planning director Sim Tze Tzin, Kebun Bunga assemblyman Cheah Kah Peng, and Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon, while the sole DAP representative – Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey – came in midway during the presentation.

Earlier, Penang Forum had thrown a challenge to the 40 assemblymen in Penang, urging each one to attend the event in view of the need to address the allegations of environmental degradation and policy weaknesses.

In a conciliatory tone, Jahara told journalists that BN will file a special motion in next month’s state legislative assembly sitting, seeking for Penang to ban all forms of hillslope development pending a policy review.

“This is not the time to point fingers, but there must be accountability for the state to move forward,” she said.

She then walked towards a group of PKR backbenchers, asking them to support the BN motion, to which Norlela and Cheah replied that they need to read the text to ensure that there was no manipulation on the matter.

Later, Cheah told theSun that everyone in the gathering agreed that the environment must be preserved.

“But we must be careful of the narrative. If it reads to study the possibility of banning hillslope projects, PKR may be able to support.

“It is about the environment, not just politics.”

In the state assembly, there are 19 DAP assemblymen led by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, PAS has one, PKR 10 while BN has 10.

Norlela said BN and Pakatan Harapan, including DAP, must come together to find a solution to the degradation of the environment.

“I hope in the coming sitting, it can be a platform to work together.”

Yap said many people have put the issue to the state government but they must also remember that the heavy flooding last month was triggered by an unusually heavy rain spell.

“Other states also experienced flooding,” she said.