Penang's 'messy' town planning
'Free-for-all' manner gives residents and non-governmental organisations the jitters
The spanking new RM5 million car park at the foothill of Penang Hill is set to be demolished because of design and structural flaws, rendering it unusable by cars bigger than the Perodua Kancil.
The blame game has started as to who is to be held responsible for the construction fiasco.
It is one of numerous "messy" projects on the island that has rattled Penang residents and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) here.
Even Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) councillors and politicians from both sides of the divide have raised questions as to whether proper planning is being bypassed to fast track projects on the island.
This, in the name of turning Penang into "an international city".
Without the Penang Local Plan in place, NGOs are concerned about the "free-for-all" manner as the island is being opened to new high-end mega projects.
The NGOs are asking the state government whether the people will have a say on the development plans for the island, which is already densely populated and heavily plagued with traffic problems.
The Penang Citizens' Awareness Chant group (Chant), comprising citizens as well as NGOs concerned about Penang's fragile heritage and natural environment, is stressing that the state government must have the Local Plan gazetted as soon as possible.
The Local Plan, which determines land use and zoning, will help ensure that future developments in the state will be properly planned and sustainable.
Chant committee member Dr Jimmy Lim said once the Local Plan was gazetted, nobody would be able to develop as they please and everyone would have to follow the plan.
The New Straits Times has learned that NGOs have been invited for a last-minute meeting with Lim at his office located on the 28th floor of Komtar today.
No agenda was set, but issues concerning development as well as reclamation projects in the state are expected to be raised during the meeting.
The meeting comes in the wake of questions being raised continuously by NGOs concerning the destruction of heritage buildings and natural environments.
Other issues of concern was the increased density to 87 units per acre; the developments of new high-rise residential projects around the island, particularly in the densely populated south zones and those involving land reclamation; as well as traffic congestion problems which have remained unsolved.
The NGOs are also expected to urge for greater transparency and better public consultations by the state government before any new development are approved.
The developers, too, have their own set of concerns.
UDA Holdings Sdn Bhd for example, would want to know whether it would be allowed to proceed with its proposed RM80 million development project to relocate as well as to redevelop the Kampung Tanjung Tokong squatter village here.
During the just-concluded state legislative assembly sitting, the state government decided to formally recognised the 200-year-old village as a heritage village.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had said that Kampung Tanjung Tokong, which was said to be the oldest Malay settlement in the state, would have its heritage status restored.
UDA chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the Federal agency was still awaiting the state government's stamp of approval to kick-start the project.
He said the agency had incorporated the heritage village concept into the overall development.
UDA had agreed to establish a heritage village in Kampung Tanjung Tokong here out of respect for the existing villages there.
A 0.8ha site will be allocated to redevelop the village, which will be equipped with a model of the existing kampung-style house, a gallery and a shop house.
"From what I understand, the state executive councillors are still deliberating on the finalised squatter relocation list," said Nur Jazlan.
"We have included the heritage village concept into our proposal to the state government."
UDA plans to build low- and medium-cost flats, apartments, condominiums and commercial buildings in four phases, with a gross sales value between RM800 million and RM1 billion, on a 9.6ha site in the village.
Work is expected to begin at the end of this year.
The model for the redevelopment of the squatter village is the first used by a developer in the country, which is based on a "house for a house" concept and villagers need not come out with a single sen for relocation.
UDA said it would build two types of houses.
The first is a three-room unit with a built-up area of 850sq ft, which will be occupied by temporary occupation licence holders as well as their beneficiaries, while the other unit, with a built-up area of 800sq ft, will be occupied by those staying in un-numbered houses.
During the construction, all villagers will be relocated to transit homes some 2km away.
Read more: Penang's 'messy' town planning - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/local/general/penang-s-messy-town-planning-1.7952#ixzz1e9Rp59xU
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