Press Statement by Koay Teng Hai in Penang on Tuesday, 7^th July 2009:

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and the Barisan Nasional Federal Government have the absolute responsibility to help the villagers of Kg Buah Pala to resolve their problems

Najib's statement yesterday in which he pushed the entire responsibility of the Kg Buah Pala issue to the Penang State Government is irresponsible on his part and completely contrary to his 1Malaysia slogan.

The sales transaction of the land from the former Penang State Government to the Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang which may cost the State to lose up to RM3 million of potential profit done when Barisan Nasional was ruling the Penang.

Therefore, the Barisan Nasional cannot deny their responsiblity in this issue and leave the villagers in limbo. They are committing a serious mistake and running away from their responsibility when they leave this problem to the new Pakatan Rakyat State Government which came into power after March 8 last year.

Barisan Nasional is still the ruling party of the Federal Government. Instead of running away from responsibility, they should now correct their past mistakes in Penang. Otherwise, 1Malaysia and Najib's promise of reform remain empty slogans.

Former Penang Chief Minister, Koh Tsu Koon who is now a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department had personally approved the sale of the Kg Buah Pala land while he was CM. Therefore he should not evade the problem and act as if he is ignorant of the whole issue. Instead Koh should now convince Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to mend their past errors and assist the Kg Buah Pala villagers to resolve their predicaments.

* Koay Teng Hai, Penang DAP Secretary & ADUN for Pulau Tikus