Penang CM urged to explain conversion of agricultural land

Penang chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been urged to explain conversion of the state's agricultural land for development projects.

Penang UMNO Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said so far, Lim remained tight-lipped and had not revealed on how big was the paddy land that had been converted into development land.

"Don't do anything as you please, all decisions are being made arbitrarily without explaining to the people," he told a press conference after a meeting of the committee at the UMNO building, Saturday.

Zainal Abidin said Penang UMNO also called on the DAP-led state government to consider the review and assessment made by the Geo-Technical Division on reclamation projects, land and land conversion issues.

He said this was because, the party had received feedback that projects that had been given negative review from the division were still approved.

In another development, Zainal Abidin said Penang UMNO was willing to lend a hand and work with the state PAS Village Security Development Committee (JKKK) members, who were sacked from their posts recently.

"We know that these PAS leaders have a strong influence in villages and housing areas. We can work together to solve problems at the grassroot level," he said.

The Penang government had terminated the services of 300 JKKK members from PAS who were holding the posts under PAS's quota.

On Sunday, Penang PAS had directed all 1,083 JKKK members from the party in the state to resign with immediate effect.