Press Statement
by DAP Penang chairman and Member of Parliament for Tanjung Chow Kon Yeow
on Tuesday, 18 June 2002
at Parliament House, Kuala Lumpur
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tun Dato Seri Dr Mohamed Zahir has rejected my second emergency motion on the Penang Outer Ring Road controversy on the ground that a member shall not reintroduce the same matter during the same meeting if the Speaker had refused the matter.
My earlier motion was rejected on 10 June 2002 on the ground that there was no urgency in debating the PORR controversy.
Once again, it is a disappointment for me and the people of Penang that Parliament does not see fit to debate the PORR controversy, which could bring about serious and long-term implications to the State.
Bearing in mind the concessionary agreement between the Government and Peninsular Metro Works would be signed soon, I have wanted to voice in Parliament the concerns of Penangites who wanted the Federal Government to conduct a total review of the PORR project.
As the Government had promised transparency in the conduct of the PORR project, the least they could do is to allow full debate on the PORR controversy both in Parliament and the Penang State Assembly.
The people are still waiting for the Government to clear the doubts on the effectiveness of the PORR, why it should be privatized and heavy tolls be imposed, why the concessionaire is given special financial packages and yet unable to build the PORR for free and also the actual cost of the project.
Despite these two setbacks, I will continue to seek avenue within and without Parliament to seek government’s accountability and transparency in the controversy surrounding the PORR project.