Story by Amanda Khong
KEEP your end of the promise!
That was the call made by exco member for Town and Country Planning and Housing Jagdeep Singh Deo to the federal government during a press conference on Nov 15 in Taman Jajar, York Road.
Phase two of the Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) in Jalan Sungai Pinang has been pending since 2008. There are 101 structures and 227 squatters in Jalan Sungai Pinang.
It is dangerous for the public especially when it rains because flash floods have been happening so often nowadays.
There are four phases in RTB but it has been at a standstill since the completion of Phase one back in 1999.
This is due to the sensitive problem of the relocation of the squatters.
“It was hard but I am proud to say that we have completed the relocation as of this year but when we submitted for the allocations for the project, the federal government rejected our request. How could they do this? This is outright cheating! If they won’t do it for us, we will! We will do it for Penangites!” said Jagdeep during the press conference.
He added that he will continue to pursue the federal government to honour its promise as stated in the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Malaysia Plans (RMK) and at the same time, the state will try to go on with the project without support from Putrajaya.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng recently announced that there will be an allocation of RM117 million for flood mitigation projects for the whole of Penang until the year 2017.
“I am very thankful to the chief minister but at the same time I am deeply disappointed with the federal government for cheating us,” said Jagdeep as he ended his press conference.
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