MPSP orders BN command centre to be relocated

Penang UMNO is disappointed with the Seberang Perai Municipal Council's (MPSP) action of not approving the Barisan Nasional's (BN) application to build a command centre in Bandar Perda for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election.

Permatang Pauh UMNO chief Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said said he considered the MPSP's action a double standard because such action was not imposed on programme organisers who used the vacant site before.

"A notice dated April 20 was placed at the site located in front of MPSP's building, prohibiting any temporary construction on it and ordered us to move immediately.

"How about the fun fair opened at the site previously, which disrupted traffic in the area," he told reporters here today.

Earlier, Mohd Zaidi had presented construction grants to build halls at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanah Liat and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Masriyah here.

Meanwhile, state UMNO Liaison Committee secretary Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir when contacted said they had sent the application to MPSP last week and had started the land levelling work before installing tents in the area.

"We (Penang Umno) had obtained permission from the land owner. We are disappointed with

the operations centre is only for two weeks and we are not constructing a permanent building there," he said.

Due to this, the command centre was moved to Perda City Mall's parking area, which is located not far from the first site, he said.

He said it could accommodate about 3,000 people and had a media centre, meeting rooms and a stage.

"The preparations are in progress and it will be operated starting tomorrow," he said.

Penang UMNO Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said although the action was 'a little cruel', they would not object to it.

"Although we are disappointed, we will not disobey...we will comply with MPSP's by-laws," he told reporters after meeting with BN machineries at Kampung Pelet here.