Karpal wants tycoon’s firms blacklisted if…

Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh wants tycoon Tan Kok Ping's companies blacklisted from future projects in Penang if found to be involved in illegally clearing a land in Bukit Relau.

GEORGE TOWN: Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh wants the Pakatan Rakyat Penang government to blacklist influential tycoon Tan Kok Ping from future projects in the state if his companies were found guilty of illegal hill-clearing.

Karpal told this at a press conference here today after state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said General Accomplishment Sdn Bhd (GASB), in which Tan is a director, was involved in illegal hill-clearing in Bukit Relau.

The hill in Jalan Bukit Gambir comes under Karpal’s Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency.

Karpal also took to task the authorities for not taking any action on the illegal hill-clearing.

Tan, 67, who is a steel and garment magnate, is also the adviser of the Penang Chinese Chambers of Commerce.

“Being a tycoon does not give him any special status and he must learn to observe the law and set an example to others.

Yesterday, Chow, who is in charge of local government, traffic management and flood mitigation, said GASB, a dormant RM2 company which owned the land in Bukit Relau would be charged at the Sessions Court on Thursday.

Karpal said the current punishment of five years’ imprisonment, or a fine of RM50,000, or both under Section 70A of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, was only “a slap on the wrist of Tan Kok Ping.”

There is also a daily punitive fine of RM500 that the court may impose.

Work on clearing the land started in February and expedited before and during the recent 13th general election.

The public came to know about the hill-clearing on May 15 when Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer called upon the Penang City Council and the state forestry department and northeast district office to investigate the matter.

He urged the state government to take firm action on the other company allegedly involved in the illegal earthwork, Boon Siew Sdn Bhd (BSSB), which owned adjoining land on the hill.

A statement issued by BSSS lawyer Lim Choo Hooi said BSSS claimed it was “never involved” in any land activities at “all material time” on the said land, including clearance and earthworks.

“Our client merely granted limited access to the landowner (GASB). Our client was not aware of any land activities that were carried out on the said land as claimed by the Penang council. We will cooperate with the local authorities and seek legal redress on the matter,” Lim said.

Karpal said BSSB must also be charged along with General Accomplishment.