The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) supports the prime minister’s recent pledge yesterday to review the disastrous mega-“Penang South Reclamation” project which has come under bitter criticism from civil society organisations including CAP.
The PM’s message indicates that the mega-reclamation project is defective in its planning and design and raises serious questions about the state government’s competence in formulating effective development programmes for the people of Penang.
In a letter sent to the prime minister on Friday, CAP had set out the reasons why the mega-reclamation project is not needed.
Initially, Penang state justified the mega-reclamation project as being needed to raise funds from the sale of reclaimed land to implement the “Penang Transport Master Plan”.
However, the federal government has now agreed to provide the funds for the Penang elevated “light rail transit” system. So, why proceed with the reclamation?
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Faced with strong criticism of the reclamation project, the state government raised the argument that Penang needs more land for development and job creation.
However, this claim is baseless and contradicts the reality on the ground. Just across the second bridge in Batu Kawan, over 3,000 acres of cheap land are available for economic growth. It has all the amenities and is very close and well connected to the Butterworth port and Bayan Lepas Airport. Investing there would contribute to bridging the uneven economic and social development between the mainland and the island.
The chief minister himself had admitted recently that 12,000 hectares of land are available for development in Penang state, with around 500 hectares on the island itself.
Also, several industrial estates in Penang state are underutilised.
Therefore, what is the rationale for the proposed land reclamation?
This sordid episode has put into sharp relief the deficiency of the Penang state government’s outdated development model – a model that is heavily real estate-driven to the detriment of social development and capability-building of Penang’s real economy.
The proposed overhead “light rail transit” system is yet another example of an unsustainable development initiative. CAP has raised concern about the logic for building such an overhead “light rail” instead of pursuing other cheaper, less disruptive, and more modern urban solutions.
Instead of solving Penang’s traffic congestion problem the elevated “light rail” will scar the state’s urban fabric and create new, more complex problems for the people of Penang.
We strongly urge the Ministry of Transport to appoint credible traffic experts to study the original Halcrow plan and modify it, taking into consideration the latest development in transport technology and urban solutions.
Finally, we call upon Penang state to convene a state conference to critically reassess its development model and shape a new, more meaningful development agenda that will position Penang as a model for Malaysia’s new economy and a beacon for sustainable development.
Mohideen Abdul Kader is president of the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)
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
In order not to scar the natural landscape of the Island, build the train line underground. companies can advertise their products and companies at the stations.