ALL political parties have internal issues to contend with, but they should refrain from allowing these to creep into the open such that they impact on the public, said Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai.
He said that it has become apparent that DAP, which is now the dominant party in Penang, is riddled with internal disputes and is unable to them rein in, causing the differences to be spilt into the open.
"We all have in-house issues, but we cannot allow them to affect the public as they voted us it.
“We are duty-bound to serve instead of allowing our rifts to affect us and our voters who are the innocent group in the first place."
Penang has of late been rocked by the water supply crises, the contentious sale of Penang Development Corporation land, and the inability to mitigate traffic congestion.
Lau cited these as among issues that can be resolved if not for the internal disputes.
He claimed to have information that the water issue could have been resolved earlier but it was allowed to linger due to distracting internal disputes.
He said this to reporters after handing out 2024 calendars to market goers at Sg Ara in Penang.
Lau reiterated the call of Penang Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong that if Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is state DAP chairman, cannot resolve the issues plaguing Penang he should be a gentleman and resign from his seat in government.
He lamented that the apparent rift between Chow and the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s lifetime advisor Tan Sri Tan Kok Pin had erupted into the open.
He said it sent a wrong signal to investors and the business community that the government of the day and the private sector are not on the same page.
On the water crises, Lau said that Gerakan had ruled Penang for 39 years under the late Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu and his successor Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, and not once did the state have to endure a series of either major scheduled or unscheduled water cuts.
Penang will undergo an upgrading and repair exercise on its water piping system, leading to extended water supply disruption, between January 10 and 14.
"DAP would be quick to draw on inheritance issues but why govern if one is not put in place to resolve issues. One cannot be harping on the blame game always.
“It is now your turn to govern, do it well and stop making excuses," said Lau.
Lau said that another pressing matter is the state's insistence on allowing the construction of a mega hostel complex to house some 30,000 foreign workers in Teluk Kumbar.
“There are 15,000 local residents in the area and the state is allowing 30,000 foreigners to overwhelm the neighbourhood,” claimed Lau.
Furthermore, a colony of foreign workers would tend to generate social ills and bring down the quality of life for the neighbourhood together with the land value, he claimed.
"It is apparent that even the government backbenchers are opposing this, yet Penang stubbornly wants to proceed with the project," he said.
“DAP has taken for granted the voices of the voters who had stood by them faithfully."
Lau however does not think Gerakan can benefit from the situation due to its own shortcomings.
He stressed that the party just wants to be an effective opposition to ensure that the government performs to the best of their abilities.
"A strong opposition allows for a check-and-balance system to take place. We want to play such a role," said Lau.
He added that the government proclaimed a “new Malaysia” but in reality there is nothing new despite that the government having had over a year to perform.
"It is a new government but an old Malaysia in place. Where are the changes?" asked Lau. – The Vibes, December 31, 2023.
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