PENANG will listen to the views of all stakeholders including the civil society and professional bodies on the proposal to overturn the state limit to cap hillslope development to only a 250 feet elevation.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that all views would be considered as the state undergoes its compulsory review of the Penang Structure Plan 2040.
As other states have increased the limit to 500 feet in terms of allowing high rise development, the state which suffers from an acute shortage of land, Chow said that the proposal can be considered for its merits.
But nonetheless, the state will listen to the views of all parties, he stressed after presenting RM2.498 million in annual grants to non - Muslim places of worship.
A total of 78 religious organisations and premises received aid from the state government.
Chow welcome input from organisations representing engineers, architects and town planners.
Meanwhile, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) cited that it is a grave folly to revise the hillslope development above 250 feet, citing the rising climate change impact.
The current policy is in placed due to past incidents of landslides and unsteady slopes, said SAM president Meenakshi Raman.
SAM is also gathering a public survey on the matter but for now, there is a need to build up climate resilience rather than aggravate the matter by developing more on hillslopes. - December 10, 2025.
