Guan Eng responsible for hillside development in Penang, says DPM
GEORGE TOWN, June 16 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng must be responsible for the development of projects on hill slopes which was reported to be affecting the environment in the state, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said the federal government had provided guidelines and regulations on the development of hill slopes but the state government seemed to have overlooked them.
Muhyiddin (picture) said it was as though Lim had allowed high-rise development projects on the hill slopes by ignoring the guidelines stipulated.
He said this when commenting on the complaints by various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the increasing development of projects on hill slopes in Penang.
On other developments, Muhyiddin said the government had agreed in principle to allow the proposed construction of an independent Chinese high school in Kuantan and would have further discussion on the matter with the MCA leadership.
“Generally, we agree. We will discuss the format for the school. We will discuss in detail how it is to be created,” he told reporters after attending a gathering with industry players here today.
More than 5,000 people had attended a peaceful assembly in Kuantan on May 20 to urge the government to set up a Chinese high school in the town.
The hour-long assembly was organised by the Federation of the Pahang Chinese Schools Management Board to demand that the Chong Hwa Independent High School in Kuala Lumpur be relocated to the town.
On the haze that was occurring in the country, he said the Education Ministry had issued an instruction to all schools as a guide on outside activities.
He said if the haze situation became more serious, the schools had been advised to restrict external activities to avoid any detrimental effects on students’ health.
The Department of Environment had issued a statement today that the haze situation in Port Klang, Cheras, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Batu Muda, Banting, Kuala Selangor and Putrajaya was reported to be unhealthy.
Responding to a question on the acceptance of the Penang people for the Barisan Nasonal currently, the deputy prime minister said that the feedback he received showed that the people in the state had given extraordinary support.
“We received information that their welfare was not taken care of by the state government and thus, their support for the BN is now stronger,” he added. — Bernama
