BN and Pakatan join hands against Pengerang refinery
In a very rare move, BN and Pakatan Rakyat activists were today spotted at the same protest today for a common cause - to oppose a massive gas refinery project at Pengerang, Johor.
In a very rare move, BN and Pakatan Rakyat activists were today spotted at the same protest today for a common cause - to oppose a massive gas refinery project at Pengerang, Johor.
Although both coalitions could handle protesting together for 20 minutes at a beach near Kampung Sungai Karpal this morning, they are divergent in their follow up actions.
Speaking to reporters after the protest, Pengerang MCA branch chairperson Tan Yong seng said his party would be seeking the intervention of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
He said that the Pengerang People’s Action Committee, which comprise of MCA and Umno members, would be collecting signatures from locals to back their protest.
He said locals are against the land acquisition plans and are concerned over the pollution caused by the refinery.
“Don’t always bring hazardous industries here and don’t acquire our land,” said Tan.
At a separate press conference, Johor DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) chief Tan Hong Pin said his party has assigned Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa will table a motion during the ongoing Parliamentary session on the matter.
As such, he said that Pakatan Rakyat too will be conducting a singature campaign over the next two weeks before a petition can be brought to Parliament.
Tan expressed hope that all political parties and NGOs in Pengerang can work together in opposing the refinery.
Other than MCA and DAP, some protestors identified themselves as Umno and PKR members.
The RM20 billion refinery, dubbed the Refinery And Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project, is expected to be even bigger than the refinery in Kertih, Terengganu.
It is expected to support a gas power plant, oil and petrochemical refining activities and other “supportive industries”.
