Penang CM Lim Guan Eng at the Penang High Court today on the first day of his defamation suit against news portal Free Malaysia Today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussein, January 19, 2015.Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today refuted a suggestion that his administration was not serious about implementing the delayed Penang Island Local Plan.On the first day of court proceedings for his defamation suit against news portal Free Malaysia Today (FMT), Lim denied a news report claiming he had allowed the heritage and environment of the state to be damaged, saying the article was defamatory and offensive.Lim said the delay in implementing the local plan was because the state had to comply with “instruments" set by Unesco, which requires a Special Area Plan (SAP) for the George Town World Heritage Site.The draft of the Local Plan was passed by the Penang Island Municipal Council in November 2008. The SAP, which is not ready, is to be included in the plan.Lim said the state received an “incredible offer" from the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) which wanted to participate in the restoration and refurbishment of heritage sites.He said that the hearings for the SAP, which include the latest proposals by AKF, are expected to begin in February.Lim was questioned by defence counsel Clement Lopez at the Penang High Court, to hear his defamation suit over the report by FMT dated December 6, 2013.
The report titled "Guan Eng has failed, says NGO", was authored by FMT journalist Athi Shankar, who quoted Penang Citizens Awareness Chant Group (Chant) advisor Jimmy CS Lim, urging the chief minister to “walk his political talk" on preservation and conservation of the state’s heritage and history.Lopez asked if Lim agreed that the local plan had not been approved.Lim said this wa sdue to requirement to comply with Unesco World Heritage Site status.“My suggestion is that the state government is not serious in implementing the local plan," Lopez said.Lim replied: “That suggestion is wrong."The article quoted Jimmy as telling a press conference that Lim allowed demolition of many heritage and historical structures, even in the vicinity of the city, to make way for sky-scrapping structures, especially hotels and posh condominiums.It reported him as saying that Lim allowed destruction of natural heritage such as the "Botak Hill’" as Bukit Relau came to be known, in Gelugor.
Jimmy Lim (right) of Penang Citizens Awareness Chant Group at the Penang High Court, today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussein, January 19, 2015.It said Jimmy accused the state of allowing the demolition of the Indian heritage village Kampung Buah Pala, commonly known as Tamil High Chaparral, in the early days of Pakatan’s rule.Questioned by his lawyer Datuk Mureli Navaratnam, Lim said he found the article to be defamatory and offensive to him.He said the illegal clearing on Bukit Relau was never sanctioned by the local authority and the developer was taken to court.He added that the eviction of Kampung Buah Pala was pursuant to a court order, and was not sanctioned by the state.Lopez acted as counsel for MToday News Sdn Bhd, the operator of FMT, and Athi, whose real name is S Karunakaran.
Jimmy, whose real name is Lim Cheok Siang, was represented by Baljit Singh and V Amareson.Judicial Commissioner Datuk Nordin Hassan who presided adjourned hearing to February 27. – January 19, 2015.
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