The Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) approved applications for hillslope developments on 38 lots on the island in the last two years, MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail said.
She added that applications on 17 lots were rejected during the same period.
Patahiyah refused to disclose where the developments were located, as some cases involved legal issues and were pending in court.
She said that in approving the applications, the council referred to a hillslope development safety guide drawn up by Oxford-trained Prof Dr Gue See Sew, a former international chairman of the coordinating committee of Apec Engineers and president of the Institute of Engineers Malaysia.
“We are considering making the slope development approvals more transparent by putting them on a website,” Patahiyah told a press conference here yesterday.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was present, stressed that the state government had not approved any development on contours above 76m-high, except for green areas like a park.
He said he was referring to developments above 76m when he said on April 20 that hillslope projects in the state were either approved or undertaken by the previous state administration.
“Of course we have approved development on slopes, but a hill by definition must be land higher than 76m,” he said.
At an earlier event yesterday, Patahiyah said she had barred MPPP councillor Dr Lim Mah Hui (who previously said that the state government had influenced the approval of a hillslope development in Sungai Ara) from issuing statements on hillslope developments because it could be sub judice. - By The Star
51 comments
CAT = Corrupt, Arrogant, Talk-only
It is a good sign. It shows that business community including developers have much confidence in the future of Penang. I don't see developers rushing in to build in Perlis or Pahang for that matter. Are we hoping to see this scenario of slow development and no growth instead ? The point is, after the approval, the state government, the MPPP ,the respective agencies, the related NGO and the general public have to play their respective role vigilantly to make sure the development take place accordingly to all guidelines. Come on, if we are so conscious about development, Gurney Drive will still be a piece of swamp land with the pokok arang around. I think we shouldn't give development a bad name.
High rise development by the seaside should be banned as well, so as not to block airflow and view from sea to inner land or vice versa. That is what I would consider proper development planning. To draw an analogy from photo-taking, the taller guys should stand behind the shorter ones for a proper picture view. But then, if we ban seaside, hillside and hillslope developments, the only place left is the flat land in between, and that is scarce in this little island. So the solution? None. U guys go figure it out. haha.
good question form Anonymous.
we need proper picture view and hormonize scenery.
Hey Lim Guan Eng and team, please resolve this for us, your Jobs and Duty as State Government.
If unable to resolve it, please hire expertise and let Opposition to debate for the good of Penang Island.
Hi Chong dont be so rude. Are you instructing or requesting?
Hi Unknown,
I'm requesting as a Penang state voter.
I wish to vote YB Lim Guan Eng in coming election, but he need to show his ability to resolve our Island property development issue and dilemma.
Balance of development is crucial to Penang State, why must reclaim land, hillslope project and hi rise seaside projects everywhere in Island, we PW still got lots of good location and land for property development. Somehow our 2nd bridge is ready soon.
If current Penang state governance unable to resolve this, then we need to change for better one.
Hi Chong
My apologies.
You have a point : )
Hi Chong,
Theoretically you are right, but and a big but, we don't have a better one to change. The alternative is Haha , Banyak Nonsense (BN).
Penang is in good hands.Why the change???Please check your facts!
Hi Chong i support u.no problem to change. Dont care about the past if there is a change and improvements. See a good change for the future
Thanks for support.
Wish our YB LGE can hear us.
We should not over protect him , is time for Penangites to demand from him and do better than Gerakan time.
We need to judge a person based from his overall performance and not only on this issues.Penang had progressed tremendously against all odds and has proven its capabilities.Give him sometime as Rome was not build overnight!I wouldn't comment too much here on this forum.Hope you got my message.
c
Hi Chong,
What actually did Gerakan did that LGE needed to do better? Forgive me but I can't think of any under Mr Potato. :P
Tun Dr Lim was an exception.
yes I also like to know what GERAKAN did?
Hi KOK Sur Lu,
Although I disagree with you on lots of things, especially on foreign ownership of Penang properties, I'd have to agree with you when you say "we don't have a better one to change".
Having said that, I think we should start to give BN "some space" to show how they have changed and in what way they can contribute to the overall well being of Penang. We must always remember competition breeds excellence. Although the state is under LGE's team, central can still play a major role in the future direction of our state.
I wouldn't crucify Gerakan just because they had a ball-less chief, instead, we should all think positively and constructively about how to leverage on this historical change in Penang politics....Cheers!
This is what I say innocent when someone still believe BN can change for better while they did the 'banyak nonsense' in the past... and please don't be naive there will be a STOP in continuing doing nonsense in the future with the mindset they are today. BN is hopeless and we need a pest control to remove all these termites before it eats up all our savings and future.
Instead, I think we should suggest to give some space to PR to prove themselves and has the capability to bring our nation for a greater achievement. Reduce budget deficit/national debt is the main KPI for federal government afterall.
Dear lovely Penangites,
We love our Island which is unique and relax in overall compared with KL.
Gerakan under Koh got corruption even he himselve quite clean, but no use as unable to manage the team and lead the team. afraid of Umno leader.
YB LGB need a stronger team, those ADUN with LGE are not prof enough but they are quite clean now. That's why we support them, but the 2nd term they may change and attracted by those big 'kantow', how LGE to avoid this is the major jobs for him to manage this.
Back to Penang state property development, for sure YB LGE not do good enough, he can't resolve the issue and he need a prof team and clean to resolve the problem.
Competition is good, at least now we got new leader from BN, which he was alone in airport and waiting for somebody to pick him up from Skypark (subang airport) this monday, i saw him.
We wish he can change the Gerakan and have few seats to balance up the DAP & PR team, we need a prof. ADUN to highlight some development issue to us, not One say from Pakatan Rakyat only.
@Chong
Your Comment : "We wish he can change the Gerakan and have few seats to balance up the DAP & PR team"
Can he change UmmmmmNO ? That is more important. No ?
A good lapdog,to be precise, UmmmmmmNO lapdog, IS STILL A LAPDOG.
I got no problem with Teng C. Yeow,But, and it's a big but,
the master say sit, the lapdog will sit. The master say eat. The lapdog will eat. No ?
What malaysia need is systemic structural change. Not personnel change.
And Parti Tak Boleh Gerak is no longer relevant in today political landscape. Their biggest political mission is to fight with MCA, to see who can put up a more Chinese face.
Younger generation care more about who can deliver, and not whose skin colour is brighter or darker.
Enough is enough. Penang has seen all of Parti Tak Boleh Gerak after so many years. Their performance after Tun Lim has been lackluster, to say the least.
LGE is having a refreshing but not yet perfect team. They are quite a few deadwood in the team.
We cannot blame them categorically because these first term YB never in their wildest dream expect to be in the ruling team in the first place.
They are not prepared.
But overall the team under the leadership of CM LGE, really kick ass and they pass with flying colour.
They deserve a stand up ovation from Penangite, for the spendid job they have done.
To the very minimum, at least the team under LGE has boosted the morale of Penangites and penang is given a higher profile internationally. I afraid I can't say the same to Penang under Banyak Nonsense.
Banyak Nonsense has been treating Penang like her bastardized stepson. They try to squeeze and strangulate Penang financially and to sideline Penang when it comes to overseas tourism promotional efforts.
Taking that into consideration, CM LGE and his team should be given more applause, as they have to play on a ground which is not level.
How much tax Penang contribute ? How much tax money being channel back to Penang , in term of percentage ?
Figure don't lie. Period.
A supposingly good apple like Teng C Yeow should comtemplate his political future.
He need a new platform to perform. Drifting along in a sinking boat, in the dirty water wouldn't help his political future.
A politically matured person would rather vote for even a deadwood, that a maggot attached to a stinking banyak nonsense corpse.
No Matter from which direction I look at it, Teng C Yeow doesn't look like Rambo, for he is not Rambo. He can't fight alone no matter how good he is.
A vote to him is a vote down into the drain.
It is still not too late to be at the right side of history. And of course he has to start off with being in the RIGHT Team.
i think what is more important is we must take care ourselves no matter who is the boss/leader.
Haha... Kok Sur Lu, you are stealing my line... thanks for highlighting..
Yes, I want my tax money to be channeled proportionately back to my lovely state Penang... But these BN see it as a way of punishment by depriving us of our rightful portion... I want to know where the hell did the 500.00 BR1M money comes from?? Our tax money? If you are entitled for it, just take it, it's your money... Vote for them? Hell NO!!
I wouldn't mind voting for Teng C Yeow if he jump ship now... He seems like a decent guy at the wrong place/party at the wrong time... I will vote any party but the arrogant BN....
Let's give LGE another term to transform PG. I'm happy with current leadership under LGE than to see people splurging all our tax payers monies to buy people votes and corruption. I'm hoping to see PR to winning big in PG.
Happy to see so many Penangites are supporting current state government especially appraising our CM leading.
But just not satisfy with current property development and our CM need to do more than let the situation become worst.
Gerakan has more prof in the team, our CM need to push more prof as candidates, to think of developement rather than political factor since still new and able to do this.
I wouldn't want to see Penang to have vast development nor slow. I'm hoping current gov could absorb more professional blue collars people into the government sectors to bring in more ideas for Penang growth. I'm not happy with fed govt proposal to have another rm500 give out not because I wanted to sideline the lower income groups but more like portraying they are genuinely care about the rakyat but in fact it's a ploy for buying votes. Don't get me wrong. I like to do charity too but doing a charity with a motive behind is something I despise.
Penang Property blog now became Political comments haha,
Just my opinion only, if BN come out with new/latest statement if they win in next GE13 in Penang, they'll make PG free port like those in Langkawi / Labuan, which you'll vote BN or pakatan?
Anything will happen now, to gain popularity.
To some of you who still feels that CM's chair is very relax and comfortable to sit on,please try and test it.Despite lack of support from Federal,Penang still doing well.Fantastic!You have our support.
It is simple, the merits and performance of a government should be based on:
FDIs, GDP, income per capita and current debt.
If these 4 are positive. It shows that the state government is running the state efficiently and tax payers money are well spent.
On top of that, if we have international media such as the Economist and Bloomberg recognizing us as an engine of growth for Malaysia and the rest of Malaysia should adopt our system, it goes to show that we are on the right track.
On a different note.
I realize that those who usually complains the most are the ones that pays the least taxes and they expect a miracle to happen.
Reviving Penang's free port status might do the trick for Penangites. Most are only into themselves.
Free port status for Penang will definitely boost the property value and make Penang even more desirable.
So would your be a traitor and vote BN and let them continue to blunder the rest and enjoy Penang as a free port.
BN is so desperate to win they might do that.
Mindset no change don't expect they could keep their promise and deliver their commitments. They don't feel shame if they fail to deliver or don't even bother what they had commited. You think they have the integrity in the record in the past?? Being cheated for so long and yet still take it as music in the ear... *sigh*
If Federal Gov really sincere in free port status please do so before GE13 to show us their sincerity. Not only if they win GE13. Show us your sincerity. I dont mind if LGE can't convert to free port status but if he can promote better greener, cleaner, corrupt free, more events and safe state I will still vote for him. I do not want to put up with Banyak Nonsense & Mau Cari Angpow for another 4-5 years to see more of them using my tax monies for their own benefit.
if they can't deliver things they promised in the last 50 years, what makes us think that they can do in the next 5 years? I afraid that my confidence in them is almost zero.
Our lives have been revolving BN for the past 5 decades. Is it too much to give current state gov 1 decade to prove themselves? I don't think that is too much to ask for. I generally don't look forward for Penang to become high income state as long as they can make Penang a most liveable state in terms of public transportation, infrastructure, greenary, cleaner and etc.
Free port status for Penang?You must be Dreaming.See,top guns coming here and talk rubbish.We won't be fooled anymore.We don't have to be a Graduate or Degree holder to know whats happening right now in Malaysia.
Free port for Penang is possible if BN wants to win Penang back. BN robbed Penang free port status and it is their duty to make return this status back to us. Malaysia can afford to have one more free port beside Mahathir's pet Pulau Langkawi. Beside Penang will bring in more revenue then Pulau Langkawi can.
Dear tyh,
It is definitely not too much to give DAP 10 years in Penang. Slotting in a couple of Gerakan seats in the state would surely help DAP perform better. And by the way, pls stop dreaming about free port. Personally I do not think this is what Penang needs.
Why not talk about a fully gov funded public university that collaborates with a reputable international uni that admits students purely based on merit.
Why not talk about a mega theme park that would attract regional tourists.
Be realistic Condomana. Mega theme park needs mega size land.Penang don't have that kind of land. Beside you need billions to develop something really impressive like Singapore's Santosa/Sand's Casino. Free post does not cost billions to implement. If it is a tiny theme part no one will come. i rather spend billions on a rail system to cut down traffic congestions. Also university does not improve the revenue to Penang beside it needed to be mega big and of international standard. It has to be really big. Free port will be more realistic to attract International/domestic tourism. Langkawi have a mega theme park so what their revenue still looses out to Penang.
Concentrate on what is possible and stop dreaming what is not.
crime, FDI, traffic, to me are the top 3 priorities.
So can i say the best thing we maintain the situation. No room for Gerakan and MCA. Only let UMNO win in their area..
Dear Penang Fan,
No one can stop you from dreaming, really....:)...It's your right! And by the way, we still have plenty of land on the mainland. More infra/entertainment there would encourage more people to stay/work/live there...Cheers!
Hi twyeow88,
FDI? Which type? Hot money that will cause bubble type? Or long term business investments that will create skilled high paying jobs? I wouldn't complain too much about traffic now, as our jam is really "kacang putih" compared to real jams in other cities around the world.
Condomana, you may have a good point. We should develop mainland Penang and make it more attractive to live and work there. These would ease up Penang island's traffic congestion issues and the high property prices.
whichever lah!
Condomana, i agree with you our traffic jam is "kacang putih". coz most of the things are "kacang putih" as compared to other cities around the world including our "kacang putih" hot money/bubble.
ah yoyo, become GE13 chatroom.
then can we vote for support or against for:-
1) stop hillslope project in Penang Island
2) our CM LGE doing well in Penang property developement
Gentleman/Ladies,we can talk from morning until mid-night but most important of all is to show your support for the present Penang government.They have done alot,suffered alot and rightly deserved our full backing.
i vote first:-
1) against hillslope projects
2) against CM
i vote u chong
I agree with the idea of slotting in few mau cari angpow folks into the state gov to have a check and balance. I don't care about free port or rapid development. I am against hillslope development but support LGE. What's the point of funding reputable university when gov still practicing bumi quota.
thy
"What's the point of funding reputable university when gov still practicing bumi quota" - which govt even this statement out of topic
Please stop having the mindset of "slotting in a few mau cari angpow and tak boleh gerak folks to have a check and balance". This is exactly what the keris folks want you to do. It's a trap! In the upcoming GE, if the keris folks maintain their current number of seats won, plus the additional few seats by mau cari angpow and tak boleh gerak folks, they could possibly become the majority. It's a dangerous mindset. Don't think about it. Don't.
Do you really think PR folks have a strong hold of the majority seats? Think again. It is not as strong as it appears to be.
Change your mindset. Change it to "I will use my legal power as a voter and as a citizen to ensure PR become the state AND federal gov. I will trust their judgment and assessment of candidates to be fit for the job, no matter who that is. And even if he/she turns out to be a frog, I will only blame it on the frog and banyak nonsense folks, not PR who is deceived too".
Penang, with its high level of sophistication, pride and civic consciousness, should role model this new mindset and lead from example.
Think of the bigger picture people. Penang folks have been selfish for too long.
P/S: It is a structural problem that we do not have sufficient platforms to express political opinion without fear of repercussions. Sorry for doing so in a property forum.
You are right and I support you.Actually by now we should know who to vote for,come the GE13.If you don't even know whats happening around in your own country,then I'm sorry for you-lah.If you have growing up children,then it's worse still...
We need a Change,for us and our next generation.Hope it can be like Taiwan ,where the Opposition won the election years ago.But of course do not act like president Tan family.
MCA and Gerakan leaders are all yes man and merely puppet to UMno. No point voting them....