FMT:
Housing, environment portfolios under 1 exco wrong, Aliran tells Chow
Having both portfolios led by one person, who is an ex-developer, can also affect checks and balances within the Penang government.
\Former Eco World chief operating officer S Sundarajoo was appointed Penang’s housing and environment committee chairman after winning the Perai seat in the state polls.
PETALING JAYA: Having the housing and environment portfolios under one committee and both headed by a former property developer is a clear conflict of interest, says Aliran.
In a statement, the civil society group said giving the two portfolios to a single person would be problematic as it raises concerns about how environmental issues related to housing development would be dealt with.
Aliran then urged Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow to reshuffle the housing and environment portfolios and ensure that it was kept separate.
It said the two portfolios should preferably be under the purview of excos from different governing parties in the state government.
The newly-elected Perai assemblyman S Sundarajoo was appointed Penang’s housing and environment committee chairman by Chow earlier this week. He is the former Eco World chief operating officer.
This is the first time that both housing and environment portfolios have been combined and placed under one exco in the Penang government.
In a statement, Aliran said despite Sundarajoo letting go of all of his interests in Eco World, the perception of a potential conflict of interest would persist.
Aliran said the Penang government’s defence of having Sundarajoo as a housing and environment exco for much-needed acumen on property development does not hold water when the state can tap into outside expertise as and when needed.
“This revolving door from business to politics and back is a practice that should not be encouraged.
“There is another angle to the case in Penang, where flat land, sensitive hills and fishing waters lie in close proximity. In this setting, some housing projects invariably involve ecological considerations and raise the consternation of nearby residents.
“So, placing the housing and environment portfolios under one exco is problematic, as it reduces checks and balances within government,” it said.
On Wednesday, Sundarajoo dismissed claims of conflict of interest, saying he left the developer seven months ago.
He said he was merely a director of one of the subsidiaries of Eco World now, and does not hold any major shares in the holding company.
“I have completely retired,” he told reporters after he was sworn in on Wednesday.
FMT has reached out to Chow for comment.
PETALING JAYA: Having the housing and environment portfolios under one committee and both headed by a former property developer is a clear conflict of interest, says Aliran.
In a statement, the civil society group said giving the two portfolios to a single person would be problematic as it raises concerns about how environmental issues related to housing development would be dealt with.
Aliran then urged Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow to reshuffle the housing and environment portfolios and ensure that it was kept separate.
It said the two portfolios should preferably be under the purview of excos from different governing parties in the state government.
The newly-elected Perai assemblyman S Sundarajoo was appointed Penang’s housing and environment committee chairman by Chow earlier this week. He is the former Eco World chief operating officer.
This is the first time that both housing and environment portfolios have been combined and placed under one exco in the Penang government.
In a statement, Aliran said despite Sundarajoo letting go of all of his interests in Eco World, the perception of a potential conflict of interest would persist.
Aliran said the Penang government’s defence of having Sundarajoo as a housing and environment exco for much-needed acumen on property development does not hold water when the state can tap into outside expertise as and when needed.
“This revolving door from business to politics and back is a practice that should not be encouraged.
“There is another angle to the case in Penang, where flat land, sensitive hills and fishing waters lie in close proximity. In this setting, some housing projects invariably involve ecological considerations and raise the consternation of nearby residents.
“So, placing the housing and environment portfolios under one exco is problematic, as it reduces checks and balances within government,” it said.
On Wednesday, Sundarajoo dismissed claims of conflict of interest, saying he left the developer seven months ago.
He said he was merely a director of one of the subsidiaries of Eco World now, and does not hold any major shares in the holding company.
“I have completely retired,” he told reporters after he was sworn in on Wednesday.
FMT has reached out to Chow for comment.
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