Press Statement By Penang State EXCO Member for Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Phee Boon Poh In Komtar, George Town On 23.8.2017.
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Department Of Environment Had Stated That There Was No Pollution From The Unlicensed Carbon-Filter-Processing Factory In Sungai Lembu.
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I regret that BN-controlled newspapers, including some Chinese newspapers, have refused to give the same prominence to my press conference as they did to my illegal detention by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission(MACC) relating to 2 letters issued by me, beginning on 3 March 2015. I had disclosed the minutes of a meeting held in Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai on 6 May 2015 on the unlicensed carbon-filter-processing factory in Sungai Lembu, after gaining approval from the Penang State EXCO meeting yesterday chaired by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
In that meeting, the Department of Environment had stated that there was no pollution from the unlicensed carbon-filter-processing factory in Sungai Lembu. I refer to the 6 May 2015 meeting, because it is connected to the letter I had issued on 3 March 2015. I must mention that the factory is 1 km from the village and the buffer zone for heavy industry is 500 meters. I quote verbatim the minutes as follows:-
“Mesyuarat berhubung kes aduan terhadap Kilang Perusahaan Habuk Kayu di Lot 894, Jalan Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam telah diadakan pada 6 Mei 2015 di Bilik Mesyuarat Cempaka, Ibu Pejabat Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai (MPSP), Bandar Perda. Mesyuarat tersebut dipengerusikan oleh Setiausaha Perbandaran MPSP ketika itu iaitu Dato’ Sr Haji Rozali bin Mohamud dan dihadiri oleh YB Phee Booh Poh (EXCO), YB Dr Norlela Ariffin (ADUN) dan Pegawai Kawalan Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS).
Wakil Jabatan Alam Sekitar memaklumkan bahawa :
- I)Lawatan Jabatan Alam Sekitar ke kilang berkenaan mendapati tiada pencemaran kerana terdapat tirai/penghadang di bahagian atas yang menghalang daripada asap/habuk tetapi kilang ini tidak mempunyai lesen
- II)Jabatan Alam Sekitar boleh menyokong pengoperasian kilang ini sekiranya aktiviti pembakaran habuk kayu dibuat secara tertutup dan memastikan alat kawalan keselamatan digunakan. Keperluan ini telah pun dimaklumkan kepada pengusaha kilang supaya mematuhi keperluan di bawah kawalan alam sekitar.
III) Selain itu, pengusaha kilang perlu mendapat lesen daripada MPSP dan pihak Jabatan Alam Sekitar akan melihat syarat-syarat lain yang berkaitan seperti pelaksanaan proses di kilang berkenaan dan kesesuaian tapak mematuhi syarat yang ditetapkan.”
This action against me is an evil political conspiracy against me and the Penang state government. I reiterate that I am clean and free from corruption. I did not take any money from the unlicensed carbon-filter-processing factory in Sungai Lembu. Neither did my family or I have any personal interest in the factory nor are the owners of the factory related to me.
I serve the people of Penang faithfully, in my capacity as an elected State Assemblyman and Penang state EXCO member. Any letters written by me is done in the course of carrying out my duties as a Penang state exco member.
I agree with the Penang Chief Minister that I will communicate directly with the Village Security & Development Committee (JKKK) of Sungei Lembu and not rely on so-called intermediaries, to avoid any misunderstanding. We will work together and stand together as a state government elected by the rakyat, to comply with the policies established by the state government and guidelines of various technical departments.
PHEE BOON POH