Sunday December 11, 2011

NGOs to hold Dec 18 gathering over unhappiness with council

GEORGE TOWN: A group of concerned citizens and several representatives of local non- governmental organisations (NGOs) are planning to hold a December 18 gathering at City Hall in Esplanade here.

They want to show their dissatisfaction against the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) whom they claimed are approving development projects haphazardly.

It is believed that this is the first time since 2008 that environment-related NGOs and social activists in Penang are planning to openly express their unhappiness against the local authority.

In the past, it was mostly Malay-based NGOs which were involved in street protests on issues seen as Malay-centric.

At least 50 people are expected to show up at City Hall on Dec 18 after attending a Penang Forum symposium at the Penang Caring Society Complex on the same day.

The organisers are also urging people who are unhappy with the alleged mass and uncontrolled development in Penang to show up.

Penang Citizens' Awareness Chant member Rebecca Duckett-Wilkinson said they would launch a week-long campaign as a run-up to the Dec 18 gathering.

She said: "We will send out press releases on various development issues confronting the state."

She added that the gathering was scheduled at 6pm and urged ratepayers here to participate, saying it was their right to highlight their discontent towards MPPP.

A fellow Chant member Prof Dr Jimmy Lim said that all the residents associations here would be asked to scrutinise the performance of MPPP.

"We will write to them whenever there are any wrong doings and they will know we are watching them," he said at a symposium on China Street yesterday.

He added that there were several issues close to their hearts like the swiftlet farming problems in the heritage enclave, the increase of density in established housing areas and non-compliance of stop work orders as well as a perceived lack of professionalism by MPPP staff when they discharge their duties.