Malaysia: Sacrificing Penang's hills for progress

Baradan Kuppusamy The Star 7 Jun 12;

Environmentalists are concerned that the many hillslope development projects, if not properly managed, would destroy the unique charm of Penang.

FOR an 85-year-old lifelong consumerist to go out in the heat of the day, demonstrate and carry a placard to decry the “mindless development” in Penang on World Environment Day on June 5, he must surely love the hills of Penang.

At an age when he should be doting on his grandchildren under the shade, S.M. Mohamed Idris, the president of both the Consumers Association of Penang and Sahabat Alam Malaysia, was demonstrating to save what is left of his beloved hills.

Both the previous Barisan Nasional governments and the present Pakatan Rakyat government led by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng have been blamed for the loss of the hills.

But anecdotal evidence suggests that the rate of destruction of the hills, loved by locals and tourists alike, has been accelerating since 2008.

Further, the expensive condos that are being built are priced out of the pockets of most locals.

If that is the case, who then are buying the condos? Mostly foreigners, say locals.

Similar anecdotal evidence also suggested last month that some 40,000 people, mostly Malays, have migrated out of the state due to the high cost of living. Lim has, however, refuted this with some evidence of his own.

Suffice to say, the rapid rate of destruction of the hills is real and beginning to worry many people, prompting Idris and others into protesting to save what is left of the famous hills of Penang.

On June 2, Anil Netto, the doyen of environmental journalism on the island, posted a message with three photos on his website, anilnetto.com, under the heading Eulogy to another hill stripped bare.

The photographs showed dramatic scenes of hillslope development.

A single paragraph states, “Now who approved this project in Paya Terubong and on what basis? The gradient of the slope looks steep.”

Idris says “Penang's beautiful natural environment and its hills are slowly losing their shine and this is due to the rampant development”.

“Our hills are stripped bare and our rivers and seas polluted. Reclamation and aquaculture activities have caused the destruction of the natural coastal ecosystem.”

“Approximately 70% of mangrove forests have been destroyed by development projects. Some beaches are nothing but mudflats,” he said..

An investigation by The Star on Monday also showed soil erosion and sedimentation from development activities.

At least nine projects are in the pipeline in Tanjung Bungah, Batu Feringghi, Bukit Gambier and Sungai Ara.

Balik Pulau and Bayan Lepas residents near such hills have appealed to the authorities to cancel the projects, especially those on hill slopes.

For Penang to be saved, the state has to undertake a holistic and sustainable development that is in harmony with nature.

Undoubtedly Lim wants Penang to be a highly-developed city state with modern skyscrapers.

He is in a hurry. He wants to be the architect of a Penang that is a thriving, giant metropolis. In the short time that he has, he wants to leave his mark on the city state.

His vision for Penang is that of an international and liveable city, a green city that is a magnet for global talents.

But in the rush to achieve his goals, he has opened the floodgates to developers to build houses, high-rise apartments, condominiums, shopping malls and commercial offices at the expense of the state's natural greenery.

People like Idris and Anil fear that if such development is not properly balanced, planned and controlled, it would destroy the unique charm that is Penang island.

With George Town awarded World Heritage Status, international tourists are beginning to pour into the state to see the pre-war buildings, enjoy the ambience of a past era and relive how a different generation probably a wiser one had lived.

They don't come to see our high-rise buildings or skyscrapers because they have plenty of those in their own country.

The huge housing and condominium bubble in Penang is fuelled by international speculators and the elite group of local super rich who are pushing property prices beyond the reach of the hard working locals.

It is the job of politicians NOT to submit to the avarice of the few in the belief that this is the very development that the state needs.

They should act as a check and balance, protect the public good and strive for a sustainable development that balances the natural greenery and heritage with the modest needs of the people.

Penang CM defends hill projects
Christina Chin and Winnie Yeoh The Star 8 Jun 12;

GEORGE TOWN: Lim Guan Eng has defended the Penang Government's stand in treating hillslope development, saying that it has the “most stringent” guidelines for it.

The Penang Chief Minister said the present state government had not approved a single project above 250 feet (76m) high, adding that it was the only state in Malaysia which had set such a bar.

“Penang has the most stringent guidelines for hillslope safety development in the country, crafted by Oxford-trained geotechnical engineer Prof Dr Gue See Sew, a former international chairman of the coordinating committee of Apec Engineers and president of the Institute of Engineers Malaysia,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He said that half of the 38 hillslope projects approved the last two years for heights below 76m were for open space and green areas without any building structures.

Lim took a swipe at some other states, which he said allowed development on hills above the height of 76m.

“Thirty-one development projects were approved by the previous Barisan Nasional state government on hill land above 250 feet (76m) compared to none by the present Pakatan Rakyat state government,” he added.

He said according to the Penang Municipal Council, eight projects on hills above 76m were approved from 1985 to 2004, three in 2005, 10 in 2006, eight in 2007 and two between January and March 2008.

The chief minister also addressed the issue of the rise in property prices, saying that there was also a similar rise in Johor and Kuala Lumpur.

The Star had reported on Penang's various hillslope projects and the rise in property prices in the state.

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) here has called on the state government to practise sustainable development.

Citizens Awareness Chant group adviser Yan Lee said hillslope developments would effect environmentally sensitive water catchment areas like Sungai Ara.

“Such developments require proper studies and environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports. Some projects do not require an EIA because of the development size but nonetheless, one should be done if the projects threaten the environment,” he said.

Lee said the Federal Government, through the relevant ministry, had the discretion to request an EIA in such a situation, expressing hope that such discretion would be exercised in hillslope developments here.

“A crematorium project about 1km away from the Ayer Itam Dam recently received planning permission from the Penang Municipal Council. This is an example of where the EIA report is needed, though not required.”