T Jayabalan, a former Batu Uban assemblyman, said the mayor as “a state functionary” should be “a little neutral”.
“He’s not a policymaker. As a functionary, he should be a little neutral and not be protective of the developers,” Jayabalan told FMT.
Rajendran however said he had been left alone to defend the project as those responsible for answering the residents were not responding to queries.
The event yesterday morning was attended by Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim and Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, both of whom left midway through the proceedings.
Jayabalan praised Rayer, saying he was “on our (the residents’) side for a change because he is Lim Guan Eng’s man”, a reference to the former chief minister.
Temperatures began to rise when a consultant who had prepared the environmental impact assessment report was repeatedly interrupted by a member of the residents’ committee.
Rajendran intervened to ask that the consultant be allowed to finish his presentation.
This led to a heated exchange, with Jayabalan expressing frustration over what he described as Rajendran’s emotional response to the residents.
“The way out is not to be condescending,” he said.
However, Rajendran disagreed with Jayabalan.
“… and I don’t agree with you that I have spoken in any way which has offended the people… I don’t think so.
“I pointed out what needed to be said as a government servant, and your reaction was also unbecoming,” he said.
When contacted by FMT, Rajendran declined to comment on the exchange.
However, he said those responsible for answering the residents, such as the state economic planning unit, Penang Development Corporation (PDC), and the contractor PLB Engineering Bhd, were not responding to queries.
“I was left alone to defend the project in the absence of Siew Khim and Rayer, who left early due to prior engagements,” the mayor said.
The landfill project entails the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the Jelutong landfill at a cost of RM1 billion under a contract between the state government and PDC with PLB Engineering.