PCM: Housing a public, not party issue

DAP's Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi warned not to abuse mandate given by the people.

GEORGE TOWN: The public spat between a DAP parliamentarian and state executive councillor over affordable housing in Penang is not an exclusive party matter, said Parti Cinta Malaysia.

“It’s an issue of public interest,” said its vice-president Huan Cheng Guan, directing his comment at DAP’s Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi.

Ooi and state exco in charge of town and country planning, housing and arts Wong Hon Wai were recently engaged in a public row over the state government’s inability to resolve the lack of low-medium cost housing for lower income families.

Ooi called on Wong to resign as a state exco. The spat turned so ugly that the national DAP disciplinary board was forced to reprimand Ooi, and the Chief Minister issued a gag order on all members to refrain from commenting on the issue.

Huan called on Ooi to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) “if he felt there was some hanky-panky going on.”

However, Ooi cautioned PCM not to meddle and interfere in DAP’s internal affairs.

Huan said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s administration preaches competency, accountability and transparency. “But where is the so-called CAT now?” he asked.

“Why is it that PCM as a political party cannot comment on a people’s issue? The victims are the people. The voters have been fooled,” said Huan.

He said the DAP’s gag order on its members raised suspicion that everything had been swept under the carpet.

‘Lodge a complaint with MACC’

Huan insisted that Ooi should have asked the MACC to investigate. Otherwise he should not make brouhaha over this issue.

“As a responsible party,” he said, “PCM once again calls on Ooi to lodge a complaint with the MACC.”

“Don’t just condemn others when what you practise is contrary to what you preach. This is sheer hypocrisy. Penangites gave you a mandate to rule with sincerity and honesty.

“Do not misuse and abuse the power given to you by the people. Ultimately, the people will be the judge,” warned Huan.

Many quarters have argued that the current state government had failed to address the issue of affordable housing for local residents.

Housing prices of landed properties have also sky-rocketed by more than 100% since Pakatan Rakyat took over the state.

Lim announced recently that he has approved 3,806 low cost and 7,790 low-medium cost housing units of which 3,421 were constructed by the government and 8,175 by private developers since assuming office in March 2008.

But Wong informed the assembly on May 3 this year that the state government had not built any low-cost and medium-cost housing between 2009 and 2010.

Moreover, in July last year, PKR’s Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin, a state housing committee member, said that “the Penang housing department was mulling banning construction of low-cost units.”