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| Guan Eng: RapidPenang should have approached us |
| Written by Regina William | |||
| Monday, 16 March 2009 15:15 | |||
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Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who welcomed Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamad Yaacop's statement on Sunday that he would discuss the matter with the Penang state government following RapidPenang's outburst, lambasted RapidPenang for going to the media before discussing the issue with the state government and exco members concerned first. RapidPenang CEO Azhar Ahmad was reported saying recently that if the state government failed to provide a site for the extra buses, the buses would be handed to RapidKL instead. "The state government has been very supportive of RapidPenang all this time even though they have yet to pay the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) any rental for the five sites which are currently being used as depots and terminals. "The rental amounting to RM85,900 per month, and not RM150,000 as alleged by some BN leaders, has not been paid since Aug 1 2007. "RapidPenang should have approached us instead of going to the media and this is not the right approach that should have been taken. "We are willing to go the extra mile to facilitate RapidPenang including acquiring land if there is a need for the additional depots and we have not even demanded payment of rental, so it is unfair and unjust for them to make such statements against the state government. "The amount for the rent was not even decided by this present state government, it was decided by the previous state government," Lim added. Four of its depots are on the island, in Sungai Nibong, Lorong Kulit, Tanjung Bunga and Balik Pulau while the one on the mainland is in Butterworth. Meanwhile, local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow who was present at the press conference said RapidPenang sent the first letter requesting for a site in Tasek Gelugor and Nibong Tebal on Jan 20 while another letter was sent on Feb 19 requesting for a site in Weld Quay. "We even had a joint inspection of the site in Weld Quay and without giving us time to act on the requisition, RapidPenang preempted us by going to the media with their threat on March 7. "It is not fair to do that, as in principle, MPPP has already said that it had no objections if RapidPenang used the Weld Quay site but only requested that RapidPenang submit its conceptual plans. "They have yet to submit the plans and are now resorting to threatening the state government by pulling out the 200 buses. This is not the proper way to conduct your business," Chow said. He urged RapidPenang to elect a representative from the present state government onto its board, just as it had been practiced by the previous state government, to facilitate communication between RapidPenang and the state government. He also added the state government was in the midst of deliberating a fee of RM10 as rental for the five sites which currently are being used by RapidPenang. "This is still being deliberated and RapidPenang has pre-empted the sincerity of the state government to work with them towards this. A draft has also been been prepared to this effect by the state economic planning committeee for further action," he added.
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