Restore Turf Club land to original status, Guan Eng told

The PGCC Campaign Group would like to
offer our congratulations to DAP, PKR and PAS for their convincing
victory and also to Lim Guan Eng for being appointed as Penang’s
fourth Chief Minister. We are not able to send a bouquet of
flowers, but hope that sincere good wishes from the hearts of the
ordinary citizens who make up our membership will matter as much, if
not more.

The CM’s first official statement gives us much to
be happy about. A government that is transparent, honest and puts the
interest of the people above that of private groups is what we have
long been clamouring for.

A new era is beginning and on
behalf of the organisations and individuals who are in this group we
offer our full cooperation and whole-hearted support. Our support is
not only moral, but we are also prepared to commit our time, energy
and skills.

With respect to the PGCC, our raison d’etre, we
would urge the government to conduct a thorough investigation
starting with the manner in which the land was re-zoned from ‘open
recreational land’ to ‘mixed development’.

Several years ago
when the public was invited (as was mandatory) to give their comments
on the Draft Structure Plan, several groups and individuals submitted
their views. To our knowledge every one was against the proposal to
re-zone the property.

Yet, to our astonishment, in an act
which was blatantly against clearly articulated public interest, the
final Plan showed status of the land as ‘mixed development’. There
was no explanation or justification.

It is our view that the
Structure Plan should be reviewed and unless there are compelling
public interest reasons, the Turf Club land should revert to its
original status.

The CM has announced that he will be meeting
the YDP and the developer to be briefed. In all fairness he should
also give us an opportunity to brief him.

Ahmad Chik

For and on behalf of PGCC Campaign
Group