By: Tan Sin Chow

GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA - Trouble is brewing in the state Pakatan Rakyat again with a DAP MP lashing out at a PKR municipal councillor who allegedly lobbied for a stop-work order issued to a property developer to be revoked.

Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi claimed the councillor had acted inappropriately when he allegedly tried to covertly pressure the council's One-Stop Centre (OSC) committee to review and revoke the stop-work order issued on June 26.

The OSC system was introduced to deal with land-related matters like planning permission, new housing projects, land conversions and land development.

Ooi, who did not name the councillor, told a press conference at a coffeeshop in Bakau Street yesterday that he wrote to the state government on Monday for a domestic inquiry into the conduct of the councillor.

Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik, who admitted that he was the one in question, said he was not interfering but had merely offered his views as a councillor.

"I was merely questioning the decision. The council can impose a fine, or even seek a court injunction against the developer by stopping it from carrying out construction work outside the permitted hours. To issue a stop-work order is definitely too harsh," he said.

Muhammad Bakhtiar said he would agree to such an order if the safety of the residents nearby was at risk.

He cited the example of another developer who was merely served with an injunction against carrying out work after 6pm.

PKR state chairman Datuk Zahrain Hashim came out in defence of Muhammad Bakhtiar.

He welcomed an investigation into the matter, adding that if there was no truth to the allegation, then the person who made the allegation must be held responsible.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said he received the letter from Ooi two days ago and had forwarded it to the council president for further action.

Chee Cheng Boon, the director of Insa Properties Sdn Bhd whose construction work in Batu Lanchang was issued with the stop-work order, said the company had filed an appeal to the council several days after the order was issued.

"We apologise to the residents nearby for the inconvenience caused. Please bear with us for the time being," said Chee, adding that the company would not carry out work beyond the stipulated hours once the stop-work order was lifted.

--The Star/ANN