GEORGE TOWN – Penang PKR has called on the state government to expedite the approval of its two local plans – for Penang island and Seberang Prai – which have been long awaited for the past 14 years.
This comes after a series of controversies over questionable development projects, the latest being a plan for a 42-storey dual-tower structure at the Burmah Square enclave here which is filled with sensitive heritage buildings.
There has also been criticism over the enforcement against illegal structures built brazenly on government land at Tanjung Tokong beach.
State PKR deputy chairman Sim Tze Tzin said that the two local plans are crucial in outlining what form of development the state requires in moving forward for the next 10 to 20 years.
“The plans comprise every expectation of ratepayers here – from how we live, our working spaces, recreation, open spaces, public amenities and how we address sensitive development in areas such as along the coast and the hillside,” he said in an interview.
Sim, who is MP for Bayan Baru on the island, was making comment after Jagdeep Singh Deo, the state executive councillor for local government, acknowledged that the plans have yet again been delayed due to some legal issues.
Civil society groups have been voicing out for years about a need for effective planning, especially after the state was struck by flooding, landslides and beach erosion, which the authorities have partly blamed on climate change.
“We hope that the state can unveil the two local plans by this year. We need to expedite it,” he said, noting that the plans were made by town planners.
The former state assemblyman for Pantai Jerejak added that many elected representatives value the importance of the plans, which are also being demanded by the electorate.
“Even when I was a deputy minister (in the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry) between 2018 and 2020, I would make time to attend briefings on the local plan as it charts the road ahead for us in terms of development,” he added.
Earlier, Jagdeep told a press conference that the drafts of the two local plans need to go through a legal process which includes obtaining public feedback before they can be presented and approved in the state assembly.
The Penang Structure Plan 2030 was gazetted in 2019 but the two local plans have yet to undergo the same process although the plan for Seberang Prai was revealed to the public last year.
It is believed that the local authorities are scrutinising some recommendations from ratepayers over the plans as well as taking into account climate change, including the effects of rainfall on sea waves.
Check on unfeasible mega development projects
Recently, the Citizen Awareness Chant Group urged Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to intervene and organise a town hall meeting on the local plans as they are needed to keep a check on undue mega-development projects.
Its advisor Yan Lee asked how the two-block high-rise planned along Chow Thye Road in Burmah Square is going to improve the image of Penang.
“This heritage enclave will be lost to tourists,” he said. “And the whole reason there is such a problem with development is because Penang does not have a local plan.
“Without a local plan, the state can decide what to develop wherever they want.
“Since 2008, the state government has been saying that they will give us a local plan, but there is none. Why is that?” he had said.
The Penang government, chief minister and the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) have been sued by an expatriate couple residing at a heritage home in Burmah Square over concerns that their heritage house is at risk of being ruined by the massive development there.
Louise Goss-Custard and Thomas Arnold Schmidt, who own a 1935 bungalow at Chow Thye Road, filed the suit on March 29, arguing that the heritage bungalows in that area do not have foundations and hence the mega-development project will endanger the homes.
They are requesting copies of relevant reports including traffic flow, environmental impact assessments, geological studies, feasibility studies and possible pollution for the proposed project via the high court.
Chow Thye Road and its surroundings are home to quaint cafes, bakeries and restaurants, attracting a crowd, especially during the weekends.
In December 2021, the PDC ordered tenants of 34 units along Chow Thye Road to leave in a month. However, it was called off after an uproar. PDC then decided to explore other options for development.
Illegal beachfront structures
Meanwhile, the Persatuan Kemajuan Nusa Pulau Pinang expressed concern over reports of more than 70 illegal structures built since 2005 on a reserve beach in Tanjung Tokong.
“We are disappointed that the public land has been illegally occupied and no action has been taken by the authorities,” the association said in a statement.
“In our recent visit to the reserve beach, we saw huge new structures being erected on the public land. We also saw a stretch of bungalow-size houses, huts, shop lots, and several chalets located at the beach.”
It noted that businesses are being conducted in the illegal beachfront structures without proper permits.
“There is also a serious environmental issue in the settlement. There is no proper sewage and drainage system in place. The wastewater from the illegal settlement goes straight into the sea, polluting the ocean, and threatening the marine ecosystem,” it added.
“So, now anyone can just build their beachfront property on public land in Penang? Is there no more rule of law in the state?” – The Vibes, April 12, 2022
