Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has had a couple of “closed-door meetings” with the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) during which issues close to the heart of developers and the housing industry were raised.
“The meetings have brought fruitful result to both party and it has achieved a win-win situation,” remarked the PCCC on its website.
Really? Read through the minutes of these two closed-door meetings carefully and draw your own conclusions. Pay close attention to the discussion on the threshold for the provision of low-cost housing, back-lanes, building setback minimum distances and major house renovations. You will get an indication of what the developers are seeking and what could be in store for the rest of us.
If you don’t understand some of the terms being used, ask around. We need to educate ourselves on these issues as some of them are crucial for the quality of life in Penang.
Affordable housing on the island for the lower income group? Dream on!
At best they will build you something that is so UNLIVABLE, you surrender and kuai, kuai go stay on the mainland (if you are lucky).
So don’t la give developer and politician bs.
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Does anyone know the story behind the Ratu Mutiara developments in Persiaran Tanjung Bungah?
The Developer Ratu Mutiara had allocated and made promises of land for recreation in the area during the sale of the earlier condos.
I wonder what has actually happened between the developers and you know whos. Now every inch of land is being used up, one block after another because density regulations allow it. On one plot too is a big Malay food business. Does anyone know what’s the story? Where is the land where our kids can play. I know, condos are supposed to have space for all those wonderful things as promised in the brochures. But in truth, it is pathetic. Who ensures that developer promises such as these are kept?
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Those of you who are developers know only too well just how to cheat on setback area regulations.
Many developments are encroaching onto set-back areas by clever tricks. One simply have to look around to see how developers cheat by encroaching into setback land areas and “sell” them off to the buyers who really haven’t a choice because it is such common practice that one will find oneself without a home if one were to fuss. Good for the developers, most of us are of course oblivious.
Can someone enlighten me? I would like to know how can setbacks be negotiated against the number of storeys the developer can pocket??? A 10 ft setback is a 10 ft setback no matter how many storeys.
As it stands, setbacks is a critical issue in Penang. Decreasing setbacks has got to be a bad joke. I would imagine that a decent authority would increase rather then decrease surely.
It is eerie. Can you imagine sleeping closer and closer to the cars cruising up and down the roads? (of course, many home owners are already in this dead end predicament). Who cares for your welfare? Not the developer and you can rest in peace knowing that the Chief Minister and the YDP don’t care either. So if you end up sleeping by the roadside hmm,… actually not quite unlike the beggar who sleeps in the five foot way (yours should be 10ft++ way?), just try to camouflage your abode and sell it the next sucker you can find.
YDP and Chief Minister, pray please tell me what is the purpose of a setback? On what basis are you reducing the setbacks? I would think that it is precisely for the reason that land is scarce that you have to preserve the common land and not load them into the pockets of developers.
Come on la Chief Minister and YDP, people like Anil is not against you, we are not BN kakis, we fought nail and tooth and put our interests in jeopardy to put you up where you are today.
We just ask that you leave behind the legacy of a more livable Penang for those people who will not be priviledged enough to migrate to somewhere else more livable. Is that too much to ask?
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At least, Ong Eu Soon is brave enough to put up his name. There are lots of cybertroopers online nowadays, especially from Pakatan Rakyat.
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If one wants more privacy, one can always pay more to buy a house with plenty of setbacks. Please note that the setbacks are not the maximum setback allowed. Those are minimum setbacks and one can always pay more for a building with comfortable setbacks.
One of the effective ways to reduce the cost of building is to change the building rules on comfort and privacy so that housing can be made more affordable.
However, I suggest that important information like building density and setbacks must be made mandatory to be highlighted in their brochures because developers can be unscrupulous as to be silent on such important details.
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Wira, yes you Wira, are one dimwitted imbecile who has given a new meaning to the word stupid.
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Mr Dalbinder – what if one puts a nickname on the blog. Seriously, I think you are just picking on the wrong place to state your support. Eu Soon is just shouting his lungs out. I believe he was the one that talks the most and gives the least comments on how to improve. One must have content before talking. What is your views on this? I believe if it was the past government, you can kiss this revelation goodbye. Nothing to hide. Ask Dr Teng or even the real Cheap Minister Koh Tsu Koon – they talk too much and today continuing talking. I slam both PR and BN. For PR, promises must be kept. As for you Mr Dalbinder – your comments should come with your legal expertise or views. If you don’t – please continue to add bits and bytes here.
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Go to my blog to read about all the proposes that I have drafted for Pakatan state governments. No one dare to tell me that I contribute the least in improving Penang except you, Jessica, who is probably a sleeping beauty in Penang.
http://eusoon.blogspot.com
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Jessica,
You see Gerakan folks love to talk about technicalities. So does some people here. Like I say, everybody has ulterior motives. Yup, me included. Of course, some of noble causes. But however, one got to strike a balance. You can’t appease anybody all the time
I got to agree with Anil Netto on certain things. Release the data from the officials on development at Surin. Close teh case once & for all
George Aurea & the gang are pretty much the guilty. According to Anil Netto’s standard, they should not be there in the first place. Preservation of nature mah!!!!!
Anyway, I mention to Ulterior…, I used to stay near the slope…….Hmmm……Dangerous leh….Nobody, not even Anil Netto complain……Why hah? Go & check…..It’s equally precarious
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No one dare to tell me that I contribute the least on improving Penang except you, Jessica, who is probably a sleeping beauty of Penang :->) Go to my blog to read about all the proposed that I have drafted for Pakatan state governments. Stop being the apologist for LGE.
http://eusoon.blogspot.com
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Even right here I am the one who stick to the point deliberating on all the issues affecting the people. You, Jessica, do what? Feel sorry for LGE that is the best you can do.
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Dear Penang Bolih,
Calling me stupid doesn’t render you an iota of intelligence. Be noble. Debate me.
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It’s not Highland Towers. It’s Highland Park, Kuala Kangsar. Built during the 70s. Yeah……Not only you risk landslide….Plus, the rubber tree would suka suka fall upon you…..
Perhaps, people’s life in Kuala Kangsar is cheaper than George Aurea. Ah so, George……Bourgeois Pompous Pampered fellow
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Dear Hero(Wira), I would be happy to debate you if there was some substance in your argument but sadly that is not the case.
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Can LGE please tell us in whose interests he has made these decisions ? For the rakyat, Big Business or DAP ?
We voted in LGE to more competent, accountable and transparent in the administration of the state. Instead LGE has practically selling the state little by little to the Big Business. Penang is slowly but surely becoming Penang Sdn Bhd.
What is shocking is that some of the decisions made like those pertaining to setback, density and the doing way of the low cost houses requirements have very serious repercussion on the long term especially in terms of sustainability, quality of living and even economic competitiveness of the state. As such it is shocking that such decisions can be made without debate and in such stealthly manner.
Though I considered KTK as a weak CM but as a person he’s competent and have personal intergrity.
However, our Cheap Minister … Though he is politically powerful (as DAP has a stranglehold on the state assembly), he has proved to be such a disaster and certainly the worst CM in Penang’s history. It is just less than 2 years and yet LGE has caused so much irresparable damage.
DAP – Development Above People
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Dear Penang Bolih,
If calling names without a debate is “with substance”, then you are relegating yourself to trash can argument which I will not participate.
Now go debate this..
“If one wants more privacy, one can always pay more to buy a house with plenty of setbacks. Please note that the setbacks are not the maximum setback allowed. Those are minimum setbacks and one can always pay more for a building with comfortable setbacks.
One of the effective ways to reduce the cost of building is to change the building rules on comfort and privacy so that housing can be made more affordable.
However, I suggest that important information like building density and setbacks must be made mandatory to be highlighted in their brochures because developers can be unscrupulous as to be silent on such important details.”
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Wira,
That part I can agree
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