Penang Gerakan has played its watchdog role well. It said there are too many restrictions and conditions and the public should have more time to study the hill development documents now being displayed at Komtar.

Penang Gerakan local government bureau head Teh Leong Meng said if the state was sincere in declassifying the documents, it should give the public a free hand to study them.

In an immediate response, the Penang Municipal Council announced that the public viewing, originally set for only two weeks, would be extended by 10 weeks till Sept 30. Each viewing session has also been extended from 90 minutes to three hours.

The state government had said that all relevant documents pertaining to projects involving land above 250ft from 2006 to 2012 would be declassified.

On Monday, Teh had led a group of five Barisan Nasional members to view the documents at Bilik Perdana in Komtar. They are Baljit Singh, Tang Heap Seng, C Mahalingam and A. Mohan.

Teh said the public would not have enough time to view and study all the projects on display within 90 minutes. “Moreover, we are not allowed to take photograph or make photocopy of the documents. Only hand notes are allowed,” he said.

“As there are 38 different projects from 2006 to 2012 to be perused, the five of us only had just less than three minutes to scrutinize each project, based on the 90-minute viewing session,” he said.

“Only the Project Planning Papers are exhibited. The information is inadequate. There are no attachment of building plans, lay-out plans, contour plans and maps. There should be more details,” he said.

Teh said one project that caught the eye is a special project, called Sunway City, which was approved in February 2012.

Penang Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said Interested parties can make a list of requests regarding the documents viewing and submit them through proper channels.

by Editorial Desk
gerakan4u.com