To check on the current Penang Government.: Councillors add sPICE to rumours of force

Monday, October 24, 2011, 11.30 AM

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Councillors add sPICE to rumours of force

2011/10/23
By Sharanjit Singh

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THE Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) has found itself trapped in the dilemma of whether to please the state government or to putting the interests of ratepayers first.

As it is, MPPP's "autonomy, independence, credibility, dignity and integrity" are being openly questioned by its very own councillors.

And just like a cat caught in the headlights of an oncoming car, the MPPP appears to be stuck in a situation where it does not know what to do.

It is too frightened to move or think. Running backwards is not an option but yet it cannot move forward as its leash is in the hands of mightier powers.

Accusations that MPPP councillors are being kept in the dark over details of projects and that the council is being arm-twisted to rubber-stamp projects that are being shoved down its throat are now being openly flung.

Things came to a boil last week when two councillors -- Lim Boo Chang and Lim Mah Hui -- decided that enough was enough and decided to break ranks.

Both refused to support a RM50 million allocation that MPPP was forced to cough up for the controversial subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre (sPICE) project.

The project has received more than its share of flak from various quarters, with some even lodging reports with the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) over the lopsided contract which MPPP has entered into with Eco Meridian Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of SP Setia Bhd and developer of sPICE.

The councillors who opposed the allocation were reported to have pointed out the reasons for their objection during the council's budget presentation by MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail.

"I am shocked that the council has been asked to carry out the RM300 million project at the instruction of the state government and is being forced to allocate RM50 million for the project," Boo Chang was reported to have said, adding that it was the first time MPPP's autonomy had been challenged.

Boo Chang also revealed that the terms and conditions were kept hidden, even from the councillors.

"We are setting a dangerous precedent for the future whereby the state government can ask MPPP to carry out a RM100 million or RM200 million project and the council would comply," said the PKR councillor.

Mah Hui, a non-governmental organisation representative, asked that the agreement between the council and developer be made public.

He said the councillors had written to Patahiyah but she had not responded to the letter.

"If the state government has nothing to hide, why hasn't the agreement been made public," Mah Hui was reported to have said, adding he believed that the administration had only the power to intervene on the issue of policy, and not budget.

"We are policymakers, but what have we become now? So, in the interest of democracy and our dignity, I cannot support this budget. I do not protest to the entire budget, only the portion on sPICE," Mah Hui said.

It was also reported that instead of giving an explanation, Patahiyah cut short the meeting after the budget was approved.

The developments at MPPP, including allegations that the council's autonomy had been undermined and that it was being forced to undertake projects using ratepayers' money, are indeed worrying.

As it is, questions are already being raised on whether the MPPP had got its priorities in the right place.

One only need to take a drive around town to see how major efforts are needed to improve various infrastructure and recreational facilities in the city centre.

For a start, it would be good for the council to check on the rusty outdoor physical training equipment that are popular with the fitness buffs at its Youth Park.