Enough is enough, no debate, rep tells Penang Forum

Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi accuses Penang Forum of wanting Penang to fail as a state. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: A Penang assemblyman today slammed an NGO’s proposed debate with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow over the Bayan Lepas LRT project as an attempt to further publicise their “lies and misleading facts”.

Telling Penang Forum that “enough is enough”, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi said that numerous efforts had been made by the state government to engage civil societies since the formation of the Penang Transport Council.

He said engagement sessions involving representatives from Penang Forum had been organised after the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) was adopted by the state government in 2015.

Individuals from Penang Forum, including Khoo Salma Nasution, even had the opportunity to speak at such functions, he said.

Gooi said the state government had explained and clarified claims raised by the NGO but it was not pleased.

In fact, he alleged, Penang Forum was making statements to tarnish the state government and its effort to provide a holistic traffic solution through the PTMP.

“Enough is enough. By trying to hook themselves up with a debate with the chief minister is part of their agenda to get some limelight for them to keep telling lies and misleading facts,” he said in a statement.

Gooi accused Penang Forum of wanting to “see Penang fail as a state”, particularly in badmouthing efforts such as the restoration of Sia Boey and Prangin Canal.

He said the state government was committed to sustainable development, especially in building a feasible and lasting transport infrastructure, “as it could see them being voted out in the next general election”.

“… unlike individuals representing Penang Forum, who are not accountable and will not get voted out even when there is no development happening in Penang.”

Yesterday, Penang Forum called for a public debate with the state government on the proposed Bayan Lepas LRT project in response to Chow’s claim that the group made baseless allegations about his administration.