Employ smart infrastructure, stop Penang ‘sinking’ by 2050

GEORGE TOWN – Penang Ratepayers Association is proposing the island state’s flood mitigation projects, which are expensive, be financed via solar farming.

Its president Lim Kim Noor said that Penang’s lack of income is the group’s main reason for advising the state government against developing flood mitigation projects.

“Many people say the flood issue has been raised to the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), but when asked when flood mitigation projects will be carried out, no one knows,” she said.

Despite the state government’s effort via its infrastructure division to overcome this problem by building underground retention ponds, Lim said that there must be good planning for its implementation.

Planning should take into account the permissible level for floods, the need for filtration wells, and efforts to enlarge drains, she said.

“The landscape division needs to learn about plants and grass that can help absorb water quickly and immediately.

“The division also needs to replace (existing) pavement with water-absorbent pavement.

“I hope MBPP can form a committee as soon as possible and give it six months for the first project to be carried out,” she said.

She also said that solar energy can be used in the event of insufficient allocation.

“Plus, many commercial banks can provide loans to install this solar system.

“We do not have to incur costs to run these projects, and in a few years, we will have good returns on investment,” she added.

However, she said that if the assessment tax is raised, Penang ratepayers will question the reason solar farming was not explored in the first place.

Calling solar harvesting “low-hanging fruit”, Lim said Penang has many structures like markets, hawker centres, and stadiums with large roofs – perfect for housing solar panels.

Floating solar farms are also an option.

Last year, Malaysian-based research firm Governance and Political Studies Centre released a digital simulation showing nine major states in Malaysia that will have parts of their land submerged by 2050.

One of them is Penang, and since then, the state’s ratepayers have been fighting towards smarter infrastructure to combat flooding and climate change. – The Vibes, March 26, 2021