Fined over bungalow demolition

A developer was fined RM6,000 by a magistrate’s court for illegally tearing down an old double-storey bungalow at Pykett Avenue here.

Klassik Tropika Development Sdn Bhd, represented by architect Low Eng Hooi, pleaded guilty to demolishing the building in July last year without obtaining the required planning permission from the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP).

In pleading for leniency, the company said the demolition was a result of miscommunication with its contractor.

The offence listed under Section 19(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 is punishable under Section 26(1)(b) with a fine of up to RM500,000 or a jail term of up to two years, or both, upon conviction.

Klassik Tropika’s counsel Mohd Imtiaz Khan told magistrate Muhammad Firdaus Abdul Wahab that the company had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

He said the demolition was a result of a misunderstanding between the company, a subsidiary of Mah Sing Group Bhd and its contractor.

“My client lodged a police report on July 27 last year that the contractor had accidentally demolished the building.”

MPPP prosecuting officer Siti Khairul Bariah Jamil Azhar argued that the misunderstanding was immaterial as the contractor was working for the developer, and the developer was therefore still liable.

On Dec 31, state Local Government and Traffic Manage­ment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, in responding to numerous queries about the illegal demolition, said that the MPPP had filed the case in court.

The building once belonged to the late philanthropist Datuk Khaw Bian Cheng.

His estate had put in an application on March 30 last year allowing MPPP to demolish it, Chow said.

Chow said the new landowner then brought the building down last July and had then put in an application to the council on Oct 6, 2010 to build a five-storey podium for car park and public amenities.

The project also includes 315 apartment units in four towers.

The application has since been frozen by MPPP, said Chow. - By Priscilla Dielenberg (The Star)

7 comments

January 18, 2011 at 12:46 PMKS_rev

Is that the land for Icon Residence, by MahSing??

 
January 18, 2011 at 4:45 PMJacquie

RM6,000 fine, a tap on the hand? What a joke

 
January 18, 2011 at 7:33 PMChong

Heritage bangalow only worth RM6k, stupid judge!!!!
How much they paid you, Mr Judge???

 
January 18, 2011 at 9:37 PMsad

something wrong over here. a fine of 6k means peanut for those arrogant and irresponsible people. there will be a floodgate effect. everyone will start demolishing old buildings..6k only mah. another laughing stock of malaysia. Bravo. Developers please start your engine, it only cause you 6k. what are u waiting for?

 
January 18, 2011 at 11:43 PMPenang Fan

The Judge must have accepted coffee money from the developer. Anti-corruption officer should investigate this case. 6,000 Rm fine is nothing to a big developer like MahSing. What a joke to the Malaysian court of justice!

 
January 20, 2011 at 2:07 PMChong

Kawan Kawan sekalian,

The total fine may RM60,000 or more, 90% is non-visible......

 
January 28, 2011 at 10:38 PMUnknown

this is a funny story....ha,ha,ha...