GEORGE TOWN: A city council forum on plans to beautify back lanes here turned ugly after a taxi driver screamed at officials, telling them to get their priorities right.
Lim Eng Chow, 49, lashed out at officials, saying he was incensed that his numerous complaints to the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) over the menace posed by illegal parking along back lanes had fallen on deaf ears.
He claimed the illegally parked vehicles had hindered firemen from putting out fires fast enough on at least 19 occasions along Hong Kong Street where he has lived for the past 20 years.
“Now you want to beautify back lanes? Have you even consulted the fire department on this? Where are the firemen in this forum? Why aren’t they here?” Lim asked in Hokkien at the auditorium of 50 people this morning.
Despite attempts to offer an explanation, council secretary Yew Tung Seang was constantly interrupted by Lim, who grew angrier by the second and continued to raise his voice.
Lim’s rant lasted a good 10 minutes before council sergeants escorted him out of the auditorium.
Still unable to contain his anger, Lim waited outside the gallery but continued yelling in Hokkien.
Inside, Yew returned some sense of calm to the forum and assured those present that the council would take Lim’s feedback into consideration.
“We will take note of Mr Lim’s grouses, do not worry,” he said.
He claimed the illegally parked vehicles had hindered firemen from putting out fires fast enough on at least 19 occasions along Hong Kong Street where he has lived for the past 20 years.