Press statement by DAP Penang chairman and MP for Tanjong, Chow Kon Yeow on Saturday, 6 October 2007 in Penang.

DAP slams Dr Teng Hock Nam and MPPP President for their arrogance in denying public participation over the Penang Global City Centre project.

The Penang DAP is unhappy that the state Local Government Committee Chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nam and MPPP President Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman have decided to close the door for a public hearing on the PGCC project.

Last week the Penang DAP has called for greater transparency in the project as the public are now kept in the dark as to the full impact of the PGCC.

The stands taken by Dr Teng and Datuk Zainal to close the door on public consultation smacks of their arrogance and their ignorance of the Local Agenda 21 which adopts a bottom-up approach in sustainable development issues.

Datuk Zainal has said: It is impossible for us to get the views of the whole population of Penang before the project is approved.

Nobody is asking Datuk Zainal to consult the whole population. But this should not be used as an excuse to deny the right to information by interested Penangites.

The PGCC is a mammoth project and its impact goes beyond the residents of the neighboring lots. So why is Dr.Teng and MPPP so afraid to allow more Penangites to aim their views?

CHOW KON YEOW

Note: The PGCC Campaign Group is organising a public forum on 7 October 2007 at the Dewan Sri Pinang. Event starts at 9.30am.