'Taiwan NGOs also opposed Pengerang plant'
Ram AnandPublished: Dec 6, 2013 5:46 AM | Updated: Dec 6, 2013 6:03 AM
Several Taiwan NGOs were also against one of their companies investing in a petrochemical plant in Pengerang, reveals DAP's Mengkibol assemblyperson Tan Hong Ping, who was part of the anti-Pengerang delegation that went to Taiwan earlier this year.
Several Taiwan NGOs were also against one of their companies investing in a petrochemical plant in Pengerang, reveals DAP's Mengkibol assemblyperson Tan Hong Pin, who was part of the anti-Pengerang delegation that went to Taiwan earlier this year.
Tan was one of the four Pakatan Rakyat observers who went with the coalition to Taiwan on July 18, to voice their disagreement to the RM40 billion Kuo Kuang Petrochemical Technology Company (KKPTC) development project slated at Pengerang refinery and petrochemicals integrated development (Rapid) project in Johor.
Speaking to Malaysiakini today, he claimed that dissenting voices towards the project that KKPTC's proposed investment were not from Malaysia alone.
He was responding to allegations by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in his policy speech at the Umno general assembly yesterday that Pakatan Rakyat leaders had "scared off" investors from the Pengerang project by going to Taiwan and talking to the investors.
"They (Taiwanese NGOs) were not happy with their government attempting to do the project there, and they are not happy with the money being invested in Malaysia and making people in Malaysia suffer," Tan said.
The KKPTC project was initially slated for Taiwan, but was opposed and later shelved, causing the company to invest in the Rapid project here.
Tan (left) also pointed out that government officials whom the anti-Pengerang group had met in Taiwan had not given any assurances to the group when they voiced their dissatisfaction.
"About one week later, we heard that the investment was called off, but that was largely because they found an energy alternative," Tan said.
Tan labelled Najib's comments a "false accusation" and expressed his regret that Najib, despite being the prime minister, would make such statements.
"Are we so powerful that we can scare off investors on our own?" he asked.
He said that despite the voices of protest coming from the people in Pengerang itself, Najib has "refused to listen" to their grouses about the project.
Tan was one of the four Pakatan Rakyat observers who went with the coalition to Taiwan on July 18, to voice their disagreement to the RM40 billion Kuo Kuang Petrochemical Technology Company (KKPTC) development project slated at Pengerang refinery and petrochemicals integrated development (Rapid) project in Johor.Speaking to Malaysiakini today, he claimed that dissenting voices towards the project that KKPTC's proposed investment were not from Malaysia alone.
He was responding to allegations by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in his policy speech at the Umno general assembly yesterday that Pakatan Rakyat leaders had "scared off" investors from the Pengerang project by going to Taiwan and talking to the investors.
"They (Taiwanese NGOs) were not happy with their government attempting to do the project there, and they are not happy with the money being invested in Malaysia and making people in Malaysia suffer," Tan said.
The KKPTC project was initially slated for Taiwan, but was opposed and later shelved, causing the company to invest in the Rapid project here.
Tan (left) also pointed out that government officials whom the anti-Pengerang group had met in Taiwan had not given any assurances to the group when they voiced their dissatisfaction."About one week later, we heard that the investment was called off, but that was largely because they found an energy alternative," Tan said.
Tan labelled Najib's comments a "false accusation" and expressed his regret that Najib, despite being the prime minister, would make such statements.
"Are we so powerful that we can scare off investors on our own?" he asked.
He said that despite the voices of protest coming from the people in Pengerang itself, Najib has "refused to listen" to their grouses about the project.
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