The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) are alarmed over proposals for two hotels on Penang Hill which could contravene the special area plan for Penang Hill and pose serious risks due to landslides and soil erosion not only on the hill but also have downstream impacts.
According to press reports, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said one of the hotels would be located behind the Convalescent Bungalow, while the other would be built along the slopes near the cafe in Laluan Kuli.
The chief minister claims that the hotels would be built according to the special area plan guidelines.
But we are shocked to read reports that the chief minister has said that one the hotels will be five storeys high with a 200-room capacity behind the Convalescent Bungalow. It will begin construction next year and “will be built higher than what is set out in the SAP”, according to the chief minister.
How can the state allow the violation of the special area plan in contravention of the law, as the plan has legal force?
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
According to the chief minister, the plan for the hotel has been delayed as the construction area involves forest reserves, and that has to be addressed. The second hotel is reported to be at the planning stage.
While the chief minister has said that the safety aspects and the landslides which have been happening in the Penang Hill area will be taken into account, we are shocked that the hotels will be built, despite the over 200 landslides last year on Penang Hill itself. There are also other landslides outside Penang Hill.
Moreover, the recent Bukit Kukus landslide tragedy in October and the Granito landslide in the Tanjung Bunga area last year have clearly revealed the incompetence of the authorities at the state and local level in dealing with developments on hill-slopes. There is a glaring lack of capacity on the part of the state and the local authorities to oversee and monitor development on hills and hill-slopes.
There is also the inability of developers and contractors of projects in areas of the two landslide tragedies to carry out their jobs adequately; otherwise these tragedies would not have happened.
The special area plan recognises Penang Hill as an environmentally sensitive area with very special characteristics. Given this fact, the state ought to give priority to rehabilitating the landslide-affected areas in Penang Hill, rehabilitate the degraded areas and take all measures to protect the hill, rather than allowing the development of more hotels in an already fragile environment.
Clearly, Penang state and the local authorities are not learning the tragic lessons of recent landslides that have involved the loss of 20 human lives already, with damaging consequences to the surrounding environment.
CAP and SAM call on the chief minister not to proceed with the construction and plans for the two hotels in Penang Hill in view of the extreme sensitivity of the area which is highly landslide prone. This is the prudent approach as nature has already taught the state serious lessons.
Let’s not make further mistakes that would cost more lives and further environmental degradation.
Meanwhile, the chief minister should also make public the plan and proposals of the two hotels and any other commercial activities being planned for Penang Hill so that the public can give its views on these plans.
Penang Hill is a precious part of Penang’s heritage and attraction as the Pearl of the Orient, and it should not be sacrificed for narrow commercial interests.
SM Mohamed Idris is president of the Consumers Association of Penang and Sahabat Alam Malaysia.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
What can the Penang state govt.do? Penang hill is no go, so is Pulau Jerejak. Is Penang just to remain as it is? I am a nature lover but I believe there needs to be a balance between development and conservation. Yes, strict enforcement of the law will be necessary to preserve the environment & this is where NGO’s like SAM can play.crucial roles.
there is already one hotel…enuff. And it is haunted I heard lols with bunian prolly kekeke