GEORGE TOWN: The failure by the DAP-led Penang government to resolve hill clearing at Bukit Gambir here is testament that it should not be given the mandate to lead Penang after the 14th General Election.
State Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow said the issue of “botak hill” had prolonged for the last five years with no preservation solution at sight.
He said the state administration, under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, had promised to order the land owner to replant trees on the cleared hill to prevent unnecessary problems when flash floods strike.
“But until today, we see no replanting or preservation efforts being carried out, either by the developer or the authorities.
“The clearing of Bukit Botak happened a few months after the 13th General Election, and the problem persists until this election,” he said after a site visit today.
Checks by the NSTP showed the hill remains bare. Efforts by Pressmen to reach the peak was however stopped by a security guard on duty.
Yesterday, Teng had challenged Lim or any opposition leaders to visit the hill to check whether its instruction was adhered to by the developer.
Teng also cast doubt on the state government’s use of Google Maps to claim that hill clearing in Penang had happened since 1984 when the application was only launched in 2005.
Meanwhile, BN’s candidate for the Batu Uban state seat, Hng Chee Wey, said the failure to resolve the issue would have serious repercussion on the nearby residents during flash floods.
“We all saw the existence of a ‘waterfall’ here when the state was hit by the major flash floods last year. Sadly, there is no solution in sight.
“I want to invite my opponent, A. Kumaresan, who was the former Penang Island City Council councillor to visit the hill and explain to us what actually happened then,” he added.
