Speech By Penang Chief Minister DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng During The DAP Penang Political Rereat In Pulau Jerejak On 15.10.2011
If Buddhist bodies are now used by the BN-controlled media to run down the PR Penang state government, will Islamic mosques be the next tool used by the BN-controlled media?
The Penang state government reminds the BN-controlled media to stop playing their dangerous games of exploiting construction by religious bodies to hit out at the Penang PR state government for political gain. We are concerned at certain news reports by some BN-controlled media, slanted in such a way as to give the impression that construction work done by these legally registered religious bodies as similar to that done by irresponsible private developers.
Knowing the desperation of BN to win Penang at all costs, the Penang PR state government is willing to face wild and baseless attacks by the BN-controlled media. However the BN-controlled media should not stoop so low as to try to exploit religion. This is not only unfair but threatens the peace, harmony and respect amongst the various religions in Penang.
The BN-controlled media, by branding these religious bodies and a developer as one and the same, has deliberately blurred the difference between a profit-seeking developer and a non-profit religious organisation. The state government will ensure compliance with rules and act against non-compliance.
However some leeway and exemptions are provided towards religious construction, especially mosques. Due to limited spaces in Penang, the PR state government is willing to make some allowance for mosques.
If Buddhist bodies are now used by the BN-controlled media to run down the PR Penang state government, will Islamic mosques be the next tool used by the BN-controlled media to hit out at the PR state government?
Will there be another fear mongering exercise against some Christian plans for mass conversion of Malay Muslims, even though this is untrue?
BN Must Explain Why They Approved 10.7 Acres To Tang Hak Ju On 15.4.2003 Causing RM 40 Million Losses To The State Government Despite Objections From Technical Departments.
When the Penang PR state government extended the lease of ancestral land that had expired and partly owned by DAP Padang Lallang Assemblyman Michael Tan, BN asks why the lease was extended when technical departments had objected. The state government did not suffer any losses from extending the lease of Michael Tan as this complies with the PR land policy of automatically extending leases of small lots that has expired and is not required for public purpose.
BN must explain why they approved 10.7 acres of quarry land in Bukit Mertajam to Tang Hak Ju on 15.4.2003 causing RM 40 million losses to the state government despite objections from technical departments. Land not belonging to the state government was approved to Tang Hak Ju despite objections from Jabatan Perancang Bandar dan Desa, Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai, Jabatan Kerja Raya and the Land Administratior for Seberang Perai Tengah.
Whilst PR agrees that the state government makes the final decision and can over-rule recommendations by the technical departments, such decisions by the state government should not result in losses. To-date, BN has not even apologised nor explained why they makes such a wrong decision in the Tang Hak Ju land scandal that caused the Penang state government to pay RM40 million.
— Mandarin Translation-
槟州首席部长林冠英于2011年10月15日，在槟州民主行动党假木蔻山举行的政治干训营上发表演讲：
如果佛教团体正被国阵控制的媒体利用来弄垮槟州民联政府，接下来，伊斯兰教堂会不会成为下一个国阵媒体的工具？
槟州政府提醒国阵控制的媒体，停止玩弄危险游戏，不要为了政治利益，利用宗教团体的兴建课题，来打击槟州民联政府。我们非常关注一些国阵控制的媒体，报道偏向一方，企图制造错误印象，把合法注册的宗教团体所进行的工程，与那些不负责任发展商所进行的工程相提并论。
我们知道国阵将不惜一切赢回槟城，槟州政府准备面对国阵媒体毫无根据的攻击。但是，国阵控制的媒体不应该如此下流，炒作宗教课题。这不只不公平，也将威胁槟州各宗教的和平、和谐、相互尊敬的情况。
国阵控制的媒体将宗教团体与一个发展商相提并论，恶意地模糊了追求利益的发展商与非盈利宗教团体之间的差别。州政府将确保有关方面遵守条例，并对付那些违规者。
但是， 我们仍为宗教场所的建设提供必要的便利与通融，特别是伊斯兰教堂。由于槟州土地有限，民联政府愿意为伊斯兰教堂提供一些惠利。
如果佛教团体正被国阵控制的媒体利用来弄垮槟州民联政府，接下来，伊斯兰教堂会不会成为下一个国阵媒体的工具？这些媒体会不会再次制造恐慌，无中生有，诬指一些基督教堂为大批伊斯兰教徒进行改教？
国阵必须解释他们为什么在技术部门的反对下，仍然在2003年4月15日批准10.7英亩的土地给陈合裕，导致州政府损失4000万令吉。
当槟州政府延长一块由巴当拉浪州议员陈宗兴部分拥有的祖传地的租赁地契时，国阵问为什么我们在技术部门的反对下延长有关地契？在延长上述地契后，州政府并没有损失，这也符合民联的土地政策，即自动更新到期的小地段、非公共用途的地契。
国阵必须解释为什么他们在技术部门的反对下，于2003年4月15日将大山脚一块10.7英亩的矿地批给陈合裕？导致州政府损失4000万令吉。尽管遭到威省市政局城市乡区规划局、工程局及威中土地局的反对，前朝政府仍然把一片不属于州政府的土地批给陈合裕。
民联同意州政府可以推翻技术部门的建议，做出最后的定夺，但是，州政府的决定不应该导致损失。至今为止，国阵还没有针对自己的错误道歉，也没有解释为何他们做出错误的决定，导致州政府在陈合裕土地丑闻中损失4000万令吉。
林冠英