Penang Gerakan chief Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan today slammed Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for his outburst against non-governmental organizations (NGOs) over the plastic bag ruling, saying Lim’s remarks were “unbecoming, petty and unwarranted.”
Dr Teng said Lim’s comments also contained elements of threat against NGOs and his unwillingness to accept differing views.
“It also reflects his dictatorial style of administration. He approves the ruling of plastic bag ban and must accept responsibility. Don’t pass the buck to the NGOs, if things are not going his way,” said Dr Teng in a statement.
Dr Teng said an NGO’S role is to provide views and options on the subjects they were set up and not to go around helping the government to implement policies.
On the use of plastic bags, Dr Teng said he agreed that there should not be an over-use but any action to ban the usage completely, especially when it could cause inconveniences, loss of income and affect the state’s economy, must be properly studied.
“We must always consider the views and plight of all interested parties including hawkers, petty traders, the lower-income group and plastic manufacturers,” he added.
On Tuesday, Lim hit out at NGOs for deserting the state when its no free plastic bag ruling came under fire.
“I am disappointed that they have not come out in full support of the ruling which they were pushing for,” he said, also describing NGOs as pandai cakap (good at talking). The ruling will come into effect daily from Jan 1.
Penang Gerakan State Chairman
Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan
