The idea that our elected representatives are fixers on whom we can exert individual pressure leads, in certain contexts, to dubious practices that undermine larger developmental objectives. One thing that Penang can do to stop this tradition is to open meetings of the One Stop Centre to the public.
RECENTLY, residents of Taman Desaria on Penang Island went to the press to complain that the developer of a housing project that was under appeal in the Appeals Board had begun clearing the land and paving an access road to the site (New Straits Times, July 15, 2011; Sunday Star, July 17, 2011). It is also clear that the residents do not want the project of 51 houses on a hill slope at all since it would rob them of “one of the last remaining green lungs”.
What is interesting about the New Straits Times’ report is that the residents have also approached Batu Maung assemblymen and state executive councilor in charge of trade and commerce Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim for help. They have also tried to meet Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, but failed. It was also reported that they had tried to meet the chairperson of the Appeals Board, but were unable to do so.
