GEORGE TOWN, Aug 17 — Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan’s threats to impose stricter rules on all Penang housing projects is an act of economic sabotage against the state, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
He accused the urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister of a personal vendetta against him and the state, which he is now taking out on the state’s property developers.
“This is not only discrimination against Penang but a heinous act of economic sabotage that is unconstitutional,” he said.
Yesterday, Rahman reportedly accused the Penang state government of purposely delaying approvals for some 10,000 housing units proposed by federal agencies in the state.
He added that his ministry will give the state a “taste of its own medicine” by imposing restrictions on housing-development related applications from Penang.
He is also considering bringing all Fire Department-related applications for newly-completed buildings to his office.
The ministry and the Penang state government have been at odds over the delay in approvals for housing projects in the state since last year.
The ministry accused Penang of stalling projects by federal agencies JKP Sdn Bhd and Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda), while Penang in turn claimed the ministry was delaying approval for private developers’ advertising permit and developers license (APDL) since last year.
“I’m not interested in his personal attacks against me but I feel there is no basis for him to take it out on the private sector just because he’s angry with me and the state,” Lim said in a press conference at his office today.
He condemned Rahman for his threats and anti-national act of sabotage against the state.
“We are talking about private development projects in the state and without the APDL, it will delay the projects and also affect the state’s economy especially during this period, we need more economic activities to spur the economy,” he said.
Lim reiterated that the state was not intentionally delaying the approvals for the 10,000 units of housing applications by JKP and Perda but that the applications did not meet requirements.
