GEORGE TOWN, July 6 — Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh (picture) has called for the blacklisting of the directors and companies involved in the alleged illegal land clearing in Bukit Relau, Jalan Bukit Gambier here.

Karpal, who is also DAP chairman, said the owner of Lot No. 11396 where the illegal land clearing allegedly took place should be blacklisted.  

He said according to a Penang local government report today, the land belongs to General Accomplishment Sdn Bhd, one of whose directors was tycoon Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping.

“Charges against the company by the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) are not enough. Both Tan as its director and the company should be blacklisted for defying the law,” he told reporters here today.

In a report during the state legislative assembly sitting today, Penang Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said Tan was the director of the company which had allegedly carried out illegal earthwork and MPPP would be bringing charges against the company on July 11. 

Tan is currently executive adviser and former president of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Meanwhile, Karpal also urged for the other company involved in the alleged activity to be prosecuted and blacklisted.

“No matter how rich or powerful you are, the DAP-led state government will not allow anyone to defy the law and escape unpunished,” he said.  

On May 15, Seri Delima state assemblyman RSN Rayer had called on the MPPP, the state Forestry Department and Northeast District Office to investigate the hill clearing activities on Bukit Relau.

It was reported in early June that the MPPP had revealed the names of the two companies which had allegedly felled trees on the hill. — Bernama