A local plan is in the offing for Penang – a positive development indeed. So, good work to the state government for seeing to this.
I bumped into Penang exco member and local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow a few days ago and told him I was pleased to hear about this development.
Many of the problems in the state have been due to haphazard development. A local plan, on the other hand, would provide a systematic guide of what sort of development is allowed in each area and what isn’t.
If you want to know what’s going to happen in your area, then you have to examine the plan when it is displayed. So, I hope adequate publicity and access would be given to the public so that they can provide their views when the plan is put on display.
This excerpt is from an Edge report:
Penang local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said that among the steps included the completion of the Penang draft local plan. This plan would govern details of land use throughout the island, including compliance within the heritage zone.
Chow said the draft local plan was ready and would be presented to the state planning committee on Thursday, Jan 14.
“Once the plan is approved and adopted by the state planning committee,it will be displayed for the public to provide comments and feedback,” Chow said after a meeting with the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) heads of departments and non-governmental organisation (NGO) representatives at the George Town world heritage office.
Also present was MPPP’s secretary Patahiyah Ismail, who is also helming the duties of the council president.
The local plan is crucial for Penang as it provides detailed information on land use, including the description of every single lot, building and area in Penang and also provides for development restrictions and future development planning zones.
Chow said once the local plan was out, it would help resolve problems related to insufficient of enforcement and compliance by the public and also developers.
He said it would also help the state government address growing concerns of its heritage conservation efforts, especially as more properties owners within George Town’s heritage zones carry out renovation works and building repairs that failed to comply with conservation guidelines.
The local plan will not only charter the management of George Town, but also the entire island.
Chow said the state government was also embarking on formulating two other plans for George Town to comply with Unesco requirements: the special area plan, and conservation management plan.
“We are also carrying out our own internal reviews of the state heritage enactment, which will be tabled at the next state legislative assembly sitting,” Chow added.
Patahiyah meanwhile said that the MPPP was also in the midst of setting up a special heritage enforcement unit that will make rounds from next week to monitor anyone flouting heritage building and renovation guidelines.
“We are planning capacity building, which will entail beefing up our legal and enforcement systems; right now the officers concerned are going through the necessary training on heritage conservation and enforcement.
“We are also looking at beefing up building and planning processes, so that the owners of the heritage buildings will feel comfortable enough to apply.
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I have a very bad experience with one of the federal government departments. I hope the Penang State Government Civil Servants will set an example for this particular Federal Government Department to emulate. We want a better service from the civil service to service the rakyat and not otherwise.
It is nothing new really, this sort of master plans a must in developed countries. This is practised in practically every shire in Australia but, it will not be that easy if there are ‘corrupts’ sitting in the administration!
PR govt in Penang earns the praise of efficiency deserving and timely.
Critics of the LGE PR government should now realise that unlike the BN-UMNO controlled Gerakan KTK government, it is accountable and transparent to the people that has elected them. Unlike the half truth and true lies from the PM Najib, at least it is trying its best in its ability to be competent, accountable and transparent. Thats what we need to weed out 52 years of darkness and corruptible action by the BN_UMNO controlled coalition..
Good work in taking up the first step of a plan and publishing it. Most important is the implementation part that must succeed. I’m sure by using the CAT policies, the chances of success is higher and the present govt must be given the support and time to see through the plan.
Waiting eagerly to see the plan.
regards,
Is this going to be yet another LGE’s grand plan that turns dud ?
Planning is one thing but the political will and the quality of the plans is another.
Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if this plan turned out to be a dud, knowing the quality and capability of the Cheap Minister and his equally incompetent exco members.
The difference between PR and BN is so vast, as vast as the Indian Ocean. PR values the mandate given by the Rakyat to them to govern, and let us be honest that they are proving themselves in every way. BN???? Ah… sickening, deplorable and despicable! They take the mandate given to them for granted as though they are born to rule and to manipulate the Rakyat at every possible turn. Penangnites, Perakians, Kedahans, and Selangorians are smart enough to return a new Government! Perakians, unfortunately had their rights robbed, though PR are still the legally elected Government.
There only can be improvements when there is competition. The Rakyat can only benefit through their wise decision to vote for a fair, competent, transparent and accoutable Government. Just imagine the immense benefits that come along when corruption is minimised! To the PR, it is now minimizing corruptions, their next step is to tackle this scourge, they will take the bulls by its horns and tackle it in stage 2. There can only be improvements and hopes in this time of despair for Malaysians, and their hopes at this point of time lie squarely on the shoulder of the PR. Like when I said only the PR will come out to the defence of the Rakyat in the Allah controversy, I was spot on. PAS and PKR came out shining whereas UMNO’s … shrunk when East Malaysians say “NO COMPROMISE”, and they conceded that East Malaysians can use Allah but not West Malaysians! These UMNO/BN leaders are so weak and bankrupt of ideas to improve the lot of the Rakyat. They just do not have the political will to do so for the Rakyat, all they care for is their own interests and benefits.
Now, with all the controlled developments that is going to take place, the Rakyat is definitely going to benefit. Just imagine and be positive what Penang and Selangor will be in ten years from now under the PR. For BN, you can go and develop and redevelop the Iskandar area your way. You can either messed it the way you had been or you really develop it to be a model of responsible developments for the Rakyat, the choice is yours, but more likely, you will screw the masses and leave behind a trail of destructions! You had so badly misled the Rakyat with your develop and redevelop policy that had put so many Malaysians in absolute despair! Do you care and did you care? You never bothered! Malaysians, just watch the mess that is going to come from the Iskandar corridor?
BN is good in coming up with ideas like BTN, NKRA, KPI, Allah controversy and so on, when it comes to core developments in every sense of the word from physical to educational, you are so so lost.
Let us see the positive developments in PR led states and compare them with BN led states. The AG’s report will be available shortly, and it is again for the Rakyat to judge. Without a doubt, the PR states will again outshine the BN led states in every way in the name of good governance. PR is going to outshine BN so badly come this time, a good example of bad Governance is Terengganu, a BN led state. What is it famous for? Falling roofs and structures! If you are in Terengganu, it is best to avoid all the new structures, for our own safety, as there are too many structures that had been collapsing.
Cheers, there is hope for Malaysians, a ray of hope can be seen, let us hope that we will finally be able to see light at the other end of the tunnel.
PR the real deal for Malaysians!
DAP = Democracy as Preached, BN = Bolts and Nuts ( how frightening)
O
It touches my heart to see your dedication to serve with such dedication on propagating the cause of PR.
To say that PR is the saviour for Malaysia reminded me of the early 1920s era when the Nazis and Hitler were hailed as saviours of the post-war Germany. Now we all know what had happened.
The happenings in Penang alone is good enough to remind us that DAP is merely PAP without brain and efficiency. It is not inconceivable that if DAP takes over the Federal Govt, we might even regress into dictatorship.
Whatever your opinion, you are free to form you own as we are living in a democracy. It does not bother me an iota with regards to your sarcastic remarks as all along, if you care to read all your remarks, it is meant to be more sarcastic, personal than to be contributive. I would not waste my time debating with you or exchanging views with you.
If PAP is without brains and democracy, Malaysian certainly has lost someone in your goodself from serving the country. Unfortunately, most unfortunately, no matter how smart or a genius you are, let me tell you this, UMNO’s answer to you is “Kami Tak Nak”. Full stop.
For someone with common sense would not have stated that Singapore leaders are without brains and efficiency. As I mentioned, I am not going to get involved in a debate with you as it will only set my mind decades backward, it will only show how immature I am to exchange views with someone who is so smart or otherwise? Congratulations for being an unused genius. Malaysia’s Government, surely does not know what it has lost!
K,
And pray tell me what makes the previous BN administration better by far? it’s easy to be a critic than be a doer. Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is and show where and how BN can do to improve the lot of Penangites, let alone Malaysians.
Credit should be given to the state government for this, however, all is not well in Penang, the RM50M Penang International Convention Centre, Telok Bahang “Eco-Park”, our CM’s pet project Tiger Park, etc are still some of the glaring issues that need to be clarified to Penangites and convince them that all these are above board and comply with the DAP state government’s CAT slogan.
Beatrice,
If I am not mistaken, the Tiger park has been scrapped due to the opposition by the people. This show that PR did listen to the people.
Kindly take note that in all decision making, we need to make choices. There are bound to be people who would be disappointed because they are affected. Even if Great Anil were to become CM of Penang, we would still see people doing the bhangara dances
We need to be realist & pragmatist in deciding the best policies suited for the benefit of all. Of course, they are certain things we must go against. Blatant corruption etc
Guys,
No such things as 1 fits all.
Yes blatant corruption must go and that is BN UMNO controlled coalition
K, Why do you have to start condemning anything and everything PR Govt is trying their best to do? This is a Very Good Step forward… BUT NNNOOOO!!! you and Gerakan K have to come out with your guns blazinging and shooting down everything effort from LGE and Penang Govt.
Encourage them, for the good for the state, and if they go off, track pull them back in.
Constructive Confrontation K, don’t behave like BN Goons
Agree with you SamG, we are humans and we must know how to use our votes and use it smart. The country as it is, is in deep and serious trouble, we need to recognize it for our future and that of our future generations. As a citizen we should take whatever steps that we can as a huge group to effect changes. We should never allow ourselves to be fools in the eyes of politicians. As it is, PR looks the better deal now, as UMNO just does not know what to do with transforming the country from all the evils and bad deeds that they had done. If PR is just another copy of BN, we can always dump them out in the next GE, right? Why as a human must we be led by the nose by another for their own gains?
With due respect to all Penangnites, I would say these people probably never had left Penang shores to earn a living and do not know what the world outside is. Penangnites who earn a living outside had always been able to shine, because with their experience in Penang and with their creativity, had always been able to outshine many of their counterparts from Malaysia.
Like the case of the PICC, so much complaints had been stirred up but KL is building one after another, and it gets bigger. Do you mean there is no market for such events in this region? Do you mean we should never compete with KL, as what those in the past thought? As it is, why are there no objections whatsoever for the latest convention centre, a rather controversial one that is to be built by Naza? Building a convention centre at around 700 million and being rewarded with a piece of land worth 15 billion? Are we not being penny wise and pound foolish? Sometimes, we really wonder, why such souls continue to pursue their agenda with such vengeance? Sounds fishy is it not? Anyway, I feel one of the reasons, Penang had stagnated the last twenty years are because of the existence of such people, we leave it to the masses to judge their intelligence, but, unfortunately, with their total destruction in the last GE, at best, they can do now is to come out with half truths and lies! Sickening is the sight of such people and yet they are talking very much like when they are in power!
As for the effort by SH Tan, I would congratulate him for his professional efforts for coming up with the objections to the PICC for reasons best known to himself, which we may not be aware, which may be reasonable, and which we must need to understand, but some people are just good at name calling and coming up with such narrow minded and one sided comment. What is 50 million if it is towards the betterment of Penang? How can we be so sure that the project will be a white elephant? The rakyat dumped them out the last time due to their lack of grey matters to transform. How can we say that this project is going to enrich DAP’s cronies? Just name one scandal that involve LGE, and with proof. Sounds like a case of another very very sour grape, is it not?
I have been telling people, PR/DAP govt is any time better than BN.
When Perak was under Nizar (PR/PAS), the villagers were so pleased as finally they have got their long awaited titleship to their land… I dont know what happen now under BN???
One thing for sure is, Lim Guan Eng and his team are working very hard for the betterment of Penang, not like the previous government… korek, korek and korek … get what i mean?
Look at the fightings in MCA, it only proves one thing, that is, the leaders in MCA are but self-seekers. A good example is Ong Tee Keat, he said if he were to lose one vote, he would resign, see what has happened after he lost…
Long live Lim Guan Eng !!!
[...] Blog post: Penang’s long awaited local plan sees light [...]
same thing i would like to add… “they” always look for BIG PICTURE… “they” never look out for minor details that would lead to disaster or even how to control a disaster… i prefer the principle of preparing for the worst case scenario rather than just big pictures… but so far i’ve seen, non of “them” have that quality…
i wouldn’t dare to wonder if one day, maybe, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake suddenly hit somewhere outside medan, seeing Penang is an island nearby Sumatera, a seismic active island, would generate some aftershock to Penang… and with so much high rise, like those of the low-cost flats at Macallum Street Ghaut, its rather sad to imagine what would be the consequences… does the plan cater for such a disaster if it ever happened ??? does our “leader” have the capability to handle such a disaster and rebuilding effort if it happens ??? i guess not… Malaysian were not always prepare for the worst… that’s just a sick dream i hope…
back to the local plan, have they imagine what Penang would look like 50 years later or just 10 years later or just 5 years later ??? a good preparatory leader would look at least 30 years ahead like Lee Kuan Yew… and see what the state country has achieved now… and please do let us all (the general public) have a look 1st… more eyes are better than the few who work on the masterplan… u guys (planners) must be really tired looking at all that… let us share yr burden for the moment… its our pleasure…
and regarding the commentary on the boards, is any of our leaders have Master or PhD in management or philosophy or human studies or even sciences or arts or equivalent ??? i don’t think those with business-related certificate would help to boost their image in a public service but thanks for applying… when we applied for high position jobs, we need to have certain qualifications right ??? we are afterall the boss, shouldn’t we be more qualitative when we choose someone to manage our “business”… i think i prefer someone with a proper experience like those, if any graduated with honours from any university, may it be locally or internationally, would be better… for one, they read more…
and no medical doctors if can… for me, many of them are no different from any businessman… i said many… not ALL…