Dear friends, today when I read The Sun, I found that my press statement was not published at all, but Terence Fernandez’s article was published.
He clarified that there was no such plan to rescind hillslope development.
I received on Sunday afternoon a text message from Nadeswaran that he will publish my statement or letter to clarify the matter . However, when I wrote my piece yesterday, The Sun dare not publish cos it hit at both him and Terence.
Today when I checked my email, I found the article under the title of “Betrayed by Teresa and Ronnie” forwarded to me by a friend. My emotion and anger rose again after reading it. All these confusion among the public is caused by these two guys.
How do they feel if someone cooked up a story against them on the front page of the newspaper? I used to have high regards for the both of them, but my respect for them has sunk a few levels after they did such a hurting thing to me.
Frankly, I roughly know who fed them the info. However, as responsible journalists, they should be fair in their reporting, and should not put their biasness in their articles based on hearsay.
They are suppose to be impartial and are suppose to uphold the principle of telling the truth to the public. These are the basic principles that we learnt at Communication school students in university.
Have they forgotten these basic teaching of journalism?
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‘Betrayed’ by Teresa and Ronnie
Malaysian With Children | Aug 18, 08 3:08pm
What shocking and depressing news to read that Teresa Kok and Ronnie Liu are prompting the Selangor state government to reverse its policy on hillslope developments. I, for one, feel stabbed in the back. Utterly betrayed.
I may be wrong, but my humble guess is that the likes of Ronnie Liu and Teresa Kok were probably not voted in by housing developers. I have a gut feeling that these people would probably have voted to maintain status quo.
Business was booming and, it would appear to a layman like me, that the developers were pretty much getting their way with the local councils in nearly every development project. Why would developers have voted for such a drastic change in the status quo?
I’m guessing that was the ordinary people that voted in the likes of Ronnie Liu and Teresa Kok into office. Residents who were tired of objecting but not being heard, of feeling like we’ve been put at the bottom of the ladder, behind business deals and economic gains.
Sadly, it seems to have taken ‘the opposition’ – our hope for something better – less than six months to show their true colours and stab us in the back.
It is back to the same old argument. We have to justify that we are not against development, but we are just against developments that crack, and fall down, and threaten our safety, and sadly, even kill people.
I say shame on Ronnie Liu and Teresa Kok. The people voted you in for help and this is how you help us?
During a residents meeting in Ampang, as we residents were venting our frustrations at the approval of a project that posed a number of safety concerns to us residents, Ronnie Liu scolded us along the lines of how could we complain when ‘you voted them in’.
Well, much to our betrayal, it seems Malaysians have again ‘voted them in’. Only this time it is worse, because these people promised us change, transparency and that they would listen to us‘little people’.
You may be able to fool us once, but don’t think we’re that stupid to be fooled again.
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Terence Fernandez’s article:
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=24855
 Columnists :: Down 2 Earth – Terence Fernandez ( Every Tuesday & Friday ) |
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No talk, full stop
LET’S get one thing out of the way. The Selangor government has NOT reversed its policy on hillside development … yet.
What this paper had been campaigning for is good governance, transparency and holding steadfast to promises made. Even an intention to break election promises is of grave concern as it reflects a government that is prone to bending over backwards on its policies and compromising the people’s welfare for the whims of large corporations whose only concern is the mighty ringgit, and to whom sustainable development is taboo.
In Selangor at least, for the last two decades, we had been subject to a state government that can be equated with a secret society, where almost every deliberation and decision was classified as an “Official Secret”.
Minutes of meetings were doctored and an entity deemed illegal by the High Court was deciding on development and investments. This entity continues to be used by the present government.
Local authorities keep two sets of books – one for public reference and one for officials – and the alienation of land meant for the public or the lower income group, to the well-connected, was as common as ais kacang on a hot day. How much of state land has ended up in the hands of cronies – some of them teenagers – will remain a mystery, unless of course the new government keeps to its word – to declassify the documents.
If there were two sets of books, there were also two sets of laws – one for you and me, and the other for exco members and assemblymen and their families and cronies.
The people are seldom consulted and even if they are, it is a mere cosmetic exercise, epitomised by the words of Datuk Emran Kadir, when he was Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) president: “We will hear the residents’ views but we have already decided to go ahead with the project.” This is the same man who insisted that a “sumbangan” (contribution) of RM10,000 had to be made with every application for a billboard licence!
The cutting of hills and encroachment into parks and green lungs were met with a slap on the wrist and another development order for another swathe of de-gazetted or non-gazetted forest. For a small cemetery, 58ha was alienated – the balance would have ended up with cronies if not for the change on March 8.
Direct negotiations were always favoured over a transparent tender process and private companies with city council officials and councillors as directors were operating with impunity, where money meant for rate-payers was siphoned into private accounts.
So it was no wonder that the people said “enough is enough” and when the opportunity came, booted out those who had overstayed their welcome and treated public office as a private entity.
Which is why, when the new guys took over, they were viewed as the Messiah – sent from the heavens to protect the weak and oppressed, and all things good and decent.
The clean-up crew was to unearth the sins of the past and put things right again. Do we hold them to higher standards than their predecessors? Of course. Because that was how they painted themselves to be – whiter than white – during the election campaign and even before when they were community leaders and heads of NGOs.
Executive councillor for investment, trade and commerce, Teresa Kok, had campaigned alongside residents and environmentalists against the rape of Bukit Gasing, and had spoken out against developers who flout the law, long before she joined the state administration.
Likewise, executive councillor for local government, Ronnie Liu, whose claim to fame was as the “Shadow MPPJ”, had been vocal in pointing out misdeeds and abuse of process by the local council and developers who park themselves outside the offices of the council president. Thus, one cannot fault this paper or the public for being aghast to find these same personalities now seemingly justifying the requests of the developers.
Yes, Kok and Liu are right. There is no harm in listening to developers and allowing them to have their say on certain issues. Yes, developers are not the enemy and there are many property developers out there who abide by rules and regulations and endorse sustainable development. But when the agenda is to get the state government to reverse a policy, which it was elected on, the two YBs should have said “No deal. You want to talk about other problems; we are all ears, but not hillslope policy”.
There is a big likelihood that the policy will remain. Liu – a night after meeting Citizen-Nades and I to clarify his position – had told the Star Metro this. But our bone of contention is that even entertaining these developers, many of whom obtained hillside land from the previous administration via dubious means, sends the wrong message to the people.
Now, thanks to the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) – which felt compelled to jump to Kok’s and Liu’s defence via a statement to this paper, part of which was published on Friday – we know that the mentri besar had already had one meeting with developers – without residents, environmentalists and those opposed to hillside development present.
The two page letter from Eddy Chen, adviser of Rehda Selangor, had 10 paragraphs – the first two stating that it was invited to the meeting and that it was “erroneous of theSun to report that Rehda is pressuring the Selangor government to reverse its policy”. (Citizen-Nades in a note to Chen refuted the claim – that no where did this paper use the word “pressuring”).
The rest discusses at length the sustainability of hillside development and why Selangor needs more homes!
We have since learnt that Rehda also met the Land Task Force which rejected its appeals and upheld the policy. So, the policy is safe for now. But what guarantee is there that there will not be further attempts to get the state government to be “flexible” on this policy?
Well, even if there is, we know whom these developers will approach to argue their case. One hopes that where right and wrong is as clear as night and day, those in power will adopt the attitude that there will be no further discussion on the issue.
Terence had told relatives and friends in Seputeh to vote for Teresa Kok in the recent election because “she can effect change”. He hopes he was not wrong. Email [email protected] for feedback.
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| Updated: 09:30AM Tue, 19 Aug 2008 |
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Hey Teresa,
I think what you need is a press secretary or something. You are holding a very important portfolio and thus you will not be able to combat every negative press against you. A press secretary will fill that role since the job will be to release statements or give official press releases on behalf of you. It’s time to be the government and use all the resources available which are needed for an efficiency.
I don’t know what’s going on here. But I know for sure the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council is probably the most corrupt in Malaysia – for so many decades Umno was getting big angpows from developers to allow hillslope condo projects in the Ulu Klang area. Even after the Highland Towers tragedy, they continued to rape the green hills in the area. My sympathies are DEFINITELY NOT with the developers! The Era of Greed-Driven Development MUST END!!!
YB Teresa Kok,
I think both you and Ronnie Liu should be extra cautious when dealing with developers. These people are not interested in the environment but are more concerned with making money. The people voted for the DAP because they were fed up with what’s happening with all the corruption surrounding the local councils etc.
So what if they own the hillside land. Like Terance said they probably got it through dubious means courtesy of the previous govt which the PR replaced. Please don’t disappoint the people in your decisions. Just tell these businessmen NO means NO!
Yes, we have cause for concern.
Teresa,
My apologies for not preceding your name with “YB” as I still associate it in my mind “YB” as “Yang Berbohong”. I am responding in good faith to your feeling of hurt.
I appreciate your frustration with regard to The Sun articles relating to the meeting between Rehda and MB of Selangor, allegedly facilitated by Ronnie Liu and yourself. However, I hope you would consider the broader issue of nurturing trust and persevering in stating your case without rancour against The Sun. You should remember that their revealing of the shenanigans of previous state government played a part in PR’s success at GE12.
As a resident of Gasing Condos, I appreciated your support at a press conference just before GE12. Hence, I do accept that you have our interests at heart. However, I hope you will read the many concerns and suspicions of residents on hill slopes development to heart. At issue is what seems to many, including me, dialogs that might bring about a change in the policy of no further hill slope development above Class 3 & 4. Your own press statement and publishing of Rehda press response seem to suggest this as a possibility. Even if it as a normal business of being friendly to all and need for dialogue between opposing groups, the track record of elected representatives changing positions in the face of wealthy lobby groups are very fresh in electorates’ minds. Suspicions are not personal.
Without going through again concerns of others that have been very well expressed in comments in response to your blog articles, I would wish to add a few points to the debate.
The state government must hold firm with a no change to announced policy after the election. Any dialogue must be under that premise. My reasons are:
1) Without a robust independent body that can objectively assess geo-technical, environmental, drainage, traffic reports and all the other studies required under EIA, no local planning authority should be placed under the mercy of lobby groups and vested interests.
2) Whilst there is technology that can make “safe” hill slope developments, our local developer track record is too appalling to assume their ability to implement the right technology in practice. From current evidence, approving authorities are far from capable of monitoring safety of development, nor have the skilled resource to ensure proper standards are complied with.
3) I strongly question the need to allow raping of our environment for lack of policies to ensure proper planning of property development with sustainable development in mind. Even Dr. M realises this when he said. “There is so much land and why do they have to cut the hills,”.
4) There are many more urgent issues for the State Government to deal with on improvements to non-hill slope development standards and regulations that impact the many poor and middle income groups. Where is the need for discussing hill slope developments that are more likely than not, the preserve of the high end market? Let us focus on promoting responsible developments and delivery to the public the right living environment.
Klang Valley has seen massive destruction of its green reserves and hill slopes. We do not need to continue this trend. By transparency and better management of adequate land resource, the Selangor State Government under Pakatan Rakyat can lead by example. Pakatan Rakyat government must be seen to deliver on its promise for sustainable development and providing Selangor citizens with liveable conditions, including but not limited to proper public transport, reduction in flash floods and receiving from developers properties promised in timely manner.
Rehda members and developers have speculated on land on hill slopes, based on lax and non-transparent local planning approvals to secret deals. The newly elected State Government can still show its fairness to those developers that are having problems with investments and work out equitable solutions without turning back on its commitment to the electorate regarding hill slope and sustainable development. There must be no repeat of the scam perpetrated by the previous state government. Lead by demonstrating in practical ways how you will practise and promote sustainable development that are also environmentally responsible. Hill slope disasters can occur many years after developers have banked their profits and moved on. The public have no choice but to hold the government and approving authorities as responsible to safeguard their safety.
Many have voted for change and I would encourage you to be weary of arguments from Rehda about losses when perhaps it’s more likely to be for continuation of making the type of “crony” gains that had been “business as usual” of the past. Please keep a check on new cronies being created.
Gary Yeoh
JAC for Bukit Gasing.
“Please don’t disappoint the people in your decisions. Just tell these businessmen NO means NO!”
– Michael Ng
I think that Michael is right. Terence also has a point.
As long as it’s anything that infinges, or even hint at infringing the law, don’t ever entertain them.
Because once you do so, they’ll have a foot in the door!
If the previous state government lets them buy hill slope land that is not suitable for development and they now found that this new team plays by the book which refuses to allow such development, thereby resulting in them losing money by not being able to do so, so be it; nobody asks them to shoot themselves in their feet.
As I have posted in one of your earlier articles, once approval is given, the person responsible will be held liable for any eventual mishaps due to such approval. Remember, lives and properties may be lost!
Therefore, it’s best not to even get near to doing it!
Dear friends, thanks for your responses. A point of clarification, the fact that I publish all the comments that go against hill slope development as well as Rehda’s statement, is to show to you that I am trying to be fair to view points of both sides, and I let all of you argue your case in my blog.
I am of the opinion that media like The Sun should play the same role, i.e. to give fair space to those who hold different opinions on issues that concern the public.
We in government have to meet with people of different groups and opinions all the time. We need to learn to listen to many arguments that presented to us.
As state exco, we received presents that given to us in functions, and we also received protest memo from groups that held demonstration against us. This is democracy, everyone is entitled to their views and opinion.
Teresa,
I fully agreed that democracy should permit space for differing views. As you well know, the state of our media is such that is far from capable of allowing balanced debate or editorials. As such it would be unfair to harshly judge The Sun, if it were skeptical about certain activities that appears to be the “old times”. They have oft times have been less that balanced in presenting the case of Bukit Gasing. Yet, I appreciate the stance they take to be cynical of politicians motives.
It is vitally important that we all nurture the budding spirit of desire for change. Perseverance in avoiding defensive reactions and persistence in demonstrating your desire to be “fair to all” should be your hallmark. In any event, certain highly suspect motives of developers should not be condoned under the guise of “fair hearing”.
YB Teresa,
I agree with Gary Yeoh that you should be extra cautious when dealing with developers who comes to you seeking help. These guys are crafty.
YB Teresa
You should definitely be wary of Fernandez and Nadeswaran: they have their own agenda and are unquestionably using the newspaper as their private megaphones. I’ve received other accounts of their arrogance: they have no interest in hearing views which are contrary to their own and those of their friends. Now you also know that when you do what they want, they will prop you up and print complementary articles about you. But when you do otherwise, even when it’s the right thing (and I think that endeavouring to hear all sides of a case is the right thing), they will show their true colours.
I note that even Gary Yeoh, who appears to have benefitted from their reporting on Bukit Gasing, admits that their reporting has been less than balanced. Certainly I’ve never read anything from them about the other side of this widely publicized tussle. I suspect that as this matter, as with so many matters in life, is more complicated than the press has reported it to be. As an elected representative for ALL rakyat, you must ensure that the innocent and law abiding are not trampled together with the scoundrels and criminals.
You are in a position to let the wider public know that the Sun is biased and has no concept of fair reporting: the leadership is rotten and the rot has permeated downwards into the ranks.
Keep your sassy spirit up! Do what is right, even if it’s unpopular.
“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken” Matthew 12:36