Penang society suffers because its NGOs are spared from accountability

By Timothy Tye and Joshua Woo

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), especially those in Penang, pride themselves as being the watchdogs that keep the government accountable for its actions. But should NGOs themselves be held accountable for their own action? Our answer is a definite 'Yes'.

Our reason for this is simple: NGOs are influential in swaying public opinion over policies and development plans. As their action may impact society as a whole, and not always in a good way, they should be held accountable for what they say and do.

It has been observed that certain Penang NGOs have access to the corridors of power. For instance, the group of NGOs identifying itself as Penang Forum was privileged to present its anti-progress campaign to the Council of Eminent Persons and the National Physical Planning Council chaired by the Prime Minister.

No other NGOs have such a privilege - why is that so? Why should the opinion of Penang Forum be given greater weight compared to the opinion of other members of society? Penang Forum's presentation potentially influences political decisions. Yet, when its opinion negatively impacts society, it is spared from any form of accountability. Why should this be so?

In comparison, politicians are held accountable and could potentially be voted out at the polls. But not the NGOs. This lack of accountability can bring about significant harm to the economy and to society. Already many people have become casualties for their callous remarks.

Recently, AnakPinang met the founder of Penang's ESCAPE Theme Park, Mr Sim Choo Kheng, who is also a Penangite. Sim is one of the big names in the international theme park industry. He is involved in more than 100 completed theme park projects around the world, including Dubai's Motiongate and Bollywood Theme Park, Denmark's Legoland, Bahrain's Lost Paradise, Russia's Ulyanovsk WaterPark, and Singapore's Universal Studios. These theme parks have become well-known attractions in their respective countries. And yet, in Penang, Sim's own hometown, he is one of the victims of the NGOs.

Putting together ESCAPE is not easy. Sim faced numerous challenges. While many were easy to overcome, the callous and irresponsible opposition from the NGOs almost thwarted the project.

When ESCAPE was mooted in 2011, the NGOs alleged that its construction would destroy the surrounding nature and water catchment. Such an allegation was made without substantiation or basis; the land ESCAPE occupies is in fact a brownfield, a former construction site of the Teluk Bahang Dam upstream.

Yet, as a result of the NGOs' irresponsible action, investors and banks pulled back from financing the project, which would not have seen the light of day, had it not been Sim's tenacity to stay on and funded the project himself - which explains why the entire ESCAPE project took much longer than planned.

Today, ESCAPE is the pride of Penang, and of the country. It won the Best Tourist Attractions award from Tourism Malaysia in 2018. This coveted award is presented only once every two years. The fact that it went to ESCAPE demonstrates how much the country values this attraction.

Today, ESCAPE is the largest employer in Teluk Bahang. It provides more than a hundred jobs to the locals. The project's multiplying socioeconomic effects have lifted many out of poverty. Not only that, it continues to spearhead environmentally friendly approaches that others are only now beginning to emulate.

For example, ESCAPE has planted over 3,000 trees, as well as transplanted another 104 trees, from different sites in Penang, saving these trees from being chopped down. Sim has turned a place that was once a barren wasteland into a lush tropical theme park.

If the NGOs had their way back in 2011, hundreds of villagers in Teluk Bahang today would be deprived of a stable job, the brownfield would remain a wasteland, and Penang would lack a world-class theme park.

ESCAPE is an example that the NGOs do not know everything. And yet they continue their strangle hold on Penang society, forcing their self-righteous opinion on the public, without any form of accountability for their past mistakes, and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Currently, ESCAPE is installing the world's longest waterslide and the news of it has gone viral globally, putting Penang on the world tourism map. When it debuts in the later part of this year, it will be another source of pride for the country, and for Penang in particular. What do the NGOs have to say about that? Where is their apology, for almost causing a world-class attraction to be scrapped? Do we see them expressing remorse? What are they up to now?

Well, they are now vehemently protesting against the Penang South Reclamation and the Penang Transport Master Plan. Isn't it time we stand up to the NGOs and hold them accountable?


Timothy Tye is a spokesperson of civil group AnakPinang and a former council member of Penang Heritage Trust. Joshua Woo is executive director of Penggerak Komuniti Muda and a former councillor of the Seberang Perai Council.