GEORGE TOWN – A citizen’s group is asking the Penang government to come clean over the rumoured sale of a 5-acre plot in Kg Sireh.
The state government has up to last year sold 879 acres of state land to developers.
Kg Sireh – located along Lengkok Burma, Codrington Avenue, and Burma Road – is alleged to be sold or used for a joint venture project with a developer.
Citizen Awareness Chant Group (Chant) adviser Yan Lee has questioned the state government on why they continue to sell state land. “Is the Penang State government looking to sell another five acres of land located in the prime area of Pulau Tikus?
“The land belongs to the Penang Island City Council, and therefore under state control.”
The NGO representative continued: “We hear that there is some activity on this land, and we want to find out from the state government if there are any plans to sell this land as we believe the state should keep this land and share it with the public.
“If I am a shareholder of a public listed company, to which the state can be viewed as a company, and they keep selling their assets, I would be very concerned.
“Are you saying that if you don’t sell assets you don’t have enough money to run Penang?” he said, adding that the state should lease it instead.
Yan Lee believes that the deficit budget 2021 and the upcoming elections may be the reason for possible talks on the sale as it will churn income.
He said that the land – which costs between RM1,000 and RM1,500 per sq ft if sold – will not benefit the people of Penang.
Instead, it will cause more traffic congestion, as it is located close to the soon-to-be-opened Island Medical Centre.
However, Pulau Tikus state assemblyman Chris Lee Chun Kit denied such speculation. “We just got the hawker centre recognised as a Tapak Penjaja Sementara (Temporary Hawker Centre) after decades of it not even being recognised.
“I have obtained authorisation to build a proper restroom and am even looking into doing the flooring in the area. I wouldn't be doing all this if there is such news of the land being sold,” he added. – The Vibes, March 17, 2021
