Source: Balloonevents.info
The Penang state government led by DAP for the past nine years has made people understand what is meant by stubbornness, or more directly, willfulness. They think they can hijack public opinion and do what they want. Actually, public complaint is mounting and people are waiting to settle the account with DAP at the general election.
One of the most upsetting incidents is that they insisted on holding the Penang hot-air balloon fiesta at Padang Polo in front of the government hospital. Although the event has concluded without any unfortunate incident, we should not wait until there is one and try to make correction.
Last year, an opinion poll was conducted by a hospital team. They distributed 396 questionnaires and only four supported the idea of holding it at the Polo Ground. In other words, 98.99% of the respondents were against it. According to understanding, more than 90% of the people were against it this year.
According to data, the Penang General Hospital has a total of 5,000 medical staff. There are 3,200 medical staff on duty daily. With 50 clinics, the number of patients can reach 1,300, plus another 3,800 visitors. As such, the volume of people can reach 10,000 daily.
I cannot understand why the state government would not give way but continue to be stubborn by holding the hot-air balloon event at Padang Polo. Is the state government awaiting some tragedy to happen and regret later?
The hospital is a place to save life. It needs a quiet surrounding, not even hooting is allowed. However, the noisy hot-air balloon carnival was held just next to it. They even had fireworks and noisy music at the opening ceremony. They are ignoring the right of the patients. People are also worried that sparks of the fireworks would be blown into the hospitals and cause an accident.
Last year, after receiving complaints from many people, I visited the scene to gain further understanding. I saw cars lined up on both sides of the road. Ambulances were stuck in the queue. Earlier, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the 2016 hot-air balloon event had not caused any traffic jam. But according to public reaction, they saw with their own eyes, there had been traffic confusions and not enough people were there to keep order.
As an individual, I am not against the hot-air balloon carnival. But the state government must respect public opinion. The fiesta has ended but I suggest next year’s event be held at a different avenue, either at the USM padang, Gurney Drive padang or Seberang Perai but not at Padang Polo in front of the General Hospital.
A member of the public complained to me that during the last event, he was sending his gravely sick mother to the hospital and failed to find a parking lot within the hospital compound after going several rounds. Because many spectators had occupied the hospital parking lots, many patients or their families were unable to park there. Fortunately, his mother was saved as otherwise, a life would be lost.
A responsible government must listen to public opinion and should not wait until some unpleasant incidents happen and then try acting in front of the people. Besides failing to listen to public opinion, this government has not shown any achievements. They know only to hijack results of the previous Barisan administration, the central government as well as private enterprises and claim credit.
The RM10 billion Batu Kawan new township is an example. The satellite town was planned by Koh Tsu Koon in line with the building of the second bridge. It was not done by Lim Guan Eng or DAP.
The IJM’s Waterfront in Jelutong is not the state government’s achievement either. It was built by the developer and not by the Pakatan Harapan state government led by Lim Guan Eng. Furthermore, when Koh Tsu Koon handed over the convention centre project to the developer of the Jelutong highway (now Lim Chong Yew expressway) then, it was already included as part of the development plan.
DAP has failed to show any results for the past nine years. Time and again, they failed to listen to public views and instead organize some unpopular and unpractical events. They are just pleased with themselves, thinking that they enjoy high popularity. I think we should allow them to go on. When the election comes, people would make their choice. Simply put, don’t treat people as fools!