We were busy, claims Guan Eng on absence at post-landslide dialogue

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today admitted that his absence, as well as that of other DAP representatives’, in a dialogue on the recent floods and deadly landslide in the state, was due to their busy schedule.

“We had some activities, some state functions to attend. Sunday is the busiest day,” he said in a press conference at the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Asked why the Penang state government did not send a representative to the dialogue, Lim again said they were all busy, save for one state assemblyperson.

“If you write to (prime minister) Najib (Abdul Razak), but he could not attend, do you want to say it is his fault? You have to see his schedule,” said Lim.

Lim, however, said he was ready to meet the dialogue’s organiser Penang Forum if it had sent him a letter.

“You set up during a time that we could not go. Why don't you arrange a time for the convenience of both?

“You can't say ‘we set a time and you must come’, this is irrational.”

The DAP secretary-general added that Penang Forum can still write to him to arrange a meeting.

“Despite them attacking me, we are ready to exchange views with them. Even if they are pro-BN, we are still ready to listen,” said Lim.

DAP elected representatives were yesterday slammed for being “too busy” to attend Penang Forum’s talk on ‘Floods: a call to action, and hillslope development’.

State opposition leader Jahara Hamid (photo) said their absence was probably due to Lim’s stand that the Tanjung Bungah landslide was a “worksite accident” and the developer’s alleged “professional negligence”.

Pulau Tikus assemblyperson Yap Soo Huey was the sole DAP elected representative at the forum, while PKR was represented by Norlela Arifin (Penanti), Cheah Kah Peng (Kebun Bunga), Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubuk) and Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin.

Tanjung Court Condominium residents’ association ad hoc committee member K Suthakar had singled out DAP's Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh and Paya Terubong assemblyperson Yeoh Soo Hin for not attending the forum and said the two were probably too busy to attend.- Mkini