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DAP calls for emergency Penang State Assembly meeting for a full debate and proper decision on the RM1.02 billion PORR project, especially after Liong Sik's statement that it is not a Federal project and Wong Kam Hoong's earlier statement that more than 90 per cent of MCA Penang Assembly representatives are against PORR Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Penang, Friday): DAP calls for an emergency Penang State Assembly meeting before the Chinese New Year for a full debate and proper decision on the RM1.02 billion Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) project, especially after the recent events, in particular: The failure of the Penang Chief Minister, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon to get two-third support of the Penang Barisan Nasional Assembly members to vote against the motion by the DAP Assemblyman for Batu Lanchang, Law Heng Kiang, in the recent Penang State Assembly to defer the RM1.02 billion Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) project until the RM400 million Jelutong Expressway is completed; The announcement by the Penang MCA State Chairman Wong Kam Hoong last month that more than 90 per cent of MCA Penang Assembly representatives were against the PORR project; and MCA President Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik's statement that PORR is not a Federal project clearly implying that it has not received the official support of the MCA national leadership, especially as Ling stressed that the MCA leaders "don't have a clue" about PORR and "we don't want to make a stand on something we know nothing about".   In fact, MCA Assembly members who voted against the DAP motion to defer the PORR project until Jelutong Expressway has been completed could reconcile their vote with opposition to PORR in wanting an outright stoppage of the PORR project instead of postponing it until the completion of the Jelutong Expressway. In giving full support to the Gerakan President, Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik in demanding both a "pound of flesh" and "pint of blood" from the Penang MCA duo, Tan Cheng Liang (Jawi) and Lim Boo Chang (Datuk Keramat) for abstaining in the vote on the DAP motion on PORR, Tsu Koon said the people's interests must override party interests. As of now, Penang Gerakan is violating this very precept in allowing its party interests to override the people's interests for two primary reasons: To please Penang UMNO and the Penang UMNO individuals who are the main beneficiaries from the PORR concession; and To exploit the opportunity to gang up with Penang UMNO and well as MCA Team B elements to give a knock-out blow to Penang MCA and in particular the MCA Team A in the contest for political influence and power, and which will have far-reaching impact on the distribution and allocation of constituencies among the Barisan Nasional component parties in the next general election. Tsu Koon should be setting a personal example of not allowing political party interests to override the people's interests and this is why he should agree to the convening of an emergency Penang State Assembly before the Chinese New Year to allow a full debate and a proper decision to be taken on PORR focusing on its viability, transparency, propriety and legitimacy. This is important as the Penang State Assembly has not yet taken a formal and proper stand on support, opposition or deferment of the PORR project. (20/12/2002) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman