Press Statement by Teresa Kok in Kuala Lumpur on
Monday, 18th August 2008:
The accusation that the Selangor
Government intends to reverse policy on the ban on hill slope
development is fictitious
The news report published by The Sun
on 14th August 2008 with the title of “Hillslope policy to be reversed?”
written by Nadeswaran and Terence Fernandez and the article written by
The Sun’s journalist Nadeswaran under the title of “Business as usual on
the hills” on 15th August 2008 are misleading and examples of
irresponsible journalism.
I am protesting against the first news report which implicated YB Ronnie
Liu and me for trying to push the state government to rescind our
decision on the ban on hillslope development. The said article also
mentioned that the Menteri Besar met with Rehda at my insistence, and
“Abdul Khalid is not in favour of meeting the developers but sources say
Kok and Liu coaxed him into it”. The fact is, there has been a meeting
between Menteri Besar and excos with Rehda on 25th July 2008. The
meeting was requested by Rehda and it was agreed by the Menteri Besar in
the exco meeting. As such the accusation in The Sun’s report is
misleading, mischevious, fatally flawed and untrue. It is in fact very
malicious for the writers to put such lines in their report as they are
subjective and based on hearsay from unamed sources.
Ever since the Pakatan Rakyat came to power in Selangor, the state excos
and MB have had series of meetings with various groups, including
various business organizations. Selangor is business-friendly and
people-friendly because both groups can co-exist and need each other.
The meeting between the MB, the Exco and Rehda on 25th July 2008 was the
first meeting after we came into power. Rehda’s representatives raised a
series of problems facing them and hillslope development was only one in
the list and not the only issue on that day. The way the two writers of
The Sun singled out hillslope development as the only issue that was
“lobbied” by Rehda via Ronnie Liu and me is absolutely not true.
The conclusion of the dialogue between the MB and Rehda is that we will
initiate a dialogue between NGOs and Rehda on hillslope development, so
that both sides can understand each other’s position better. Neither the
MB nor any exco has ever come out with statement that said there might
be a reverse on the ban on hillslope development whether privately or
publicly.
As the two articles have created confusion and misunderstanding among
residents and some NGOs on the issue, some NGOs have come out to protest
against the “decision” yesterday.
This statement to clarify the real situation and position of the
Selangor government.
I also wish to voice my protest and utter disappointment the misleading
message that has been sent out from the two articles written by both
Nadeswaran and Terence Fernandez of The Sun. I am very disappointed with
the way Nadeswaran repeating the lie in his second article titled
“Business as usual on the hills” on 15th August 2008 after I have
clarified with Nadeswaran.
I can only presume, rightly or otherwise, both Nadeswaran and Terence
Fernandez are very environmentally conscious and they want to pre-empt
imaginary moves by the Selangor government to reverse the ban on
hillslope development policy.
While we support the writers’ freedom of expression, they should also
learn to be fair, just and responsible in their writing, and should
refrain from cooking up fairytales about the Selangor government.
* Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Selangor State Senior Exco & MP for
Seputeh
http://dapmalaysia.org