A developer is threatening to sue the Penang state government for tens of millions of ringgit.
The developer is one of four that was compelled to scale down its project to abide by Unesco guidelines for the preservation of George Town’s world heritage site listing.
Instead of timidly conceding the possibility of paying compensation (as it has in the past, thus possibly having the opposite effect of emboldening developers to sue the government), the Penang state government should publicly name the developer concerned and challenge it all the way.
A few Penangites already know who the developer is, but I will leave it to the Penang state government to come out and formally identify the developer.
I don’t think the people of Penang – and even those outside – are going to be impressed with the developer’s move for it is public money that is at stake.
I am sure the state government will receive the full support of fair-minded people and civil society groups alike if it were to contest the developer’s action. I am sure the public will rally behind the government in this instance if it takes a principled stand. After all, the Penang state government was complying with Unesco guidelines on a matter of public interest (preservation of George Town’s world heritage status).
So could we have the name of the developer in the interests of transparency and then let’s see what the public thinks of the developer’s move.
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Dear Penangnites
Looking at LGE Govt presently, the State Government (could end up) working with the Developer on how to side step the UNESCO guidelines and proceed with the Development
DAP- Development Above People!!!!
rgda
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Penang Will Consider Views Of Building Owners Who Decline Heritage Status
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=452999
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Anil
I must admit your article came out at the right time. I am glad my Chief Minister has taken to task the support of NGOs on the heritage issue. Let the developer take the state to court. The present government wants the fullest support on the heritage issue. What is worrying is to hear NGOs not attending meetings. HUh!
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Hold your horses, Anil…..Just wait & see….
Again People,
Make your own judgement. Don’t blindly follow people. Including The Great Anil
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yeah, name the developer. then let’s boycott their products.
people, unite!!
4RAKYAT
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The Penang state government still waiting money from Federal Government to manage/maintain this heritage site (Malacca state government already got it–what a double standard and bullying act!). On the other hand, that selfish developer threaten to sue state government. Money saved by LGE administration from prudent spending will be wasted on compensation. We must not allow this to happen. LGE should handle this threat by a threat. State government can do a lot of thing (legally) to make that developer life difficult, eg delay anything related to that developer in each state that governed by PR. Or put it bluntly, we may consider to revoke your development permit because it against public interest. Of course all this must be done behind the scene.
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The State Gov should refuse to pay. This is unjust. At the same time, the heritage NGOs shouldn’t keep quiet about this.
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LGE himself to be blamed for the heritage listing crisis, instead he blamed the civil society for not pressuring him. It is the Unesco guidelines not the civil society that compel him to scale down the height of the hotels. It was him who hinted to the developers that they can seek compensation from the state government for scaling down the hotels. There are ways for him to avoid law suits from developers but LGE appear to do nothing about it. One of the way is he should in the first place filed an appeal to the appeal board which has the final say on development issue. No one can challenge the appeal board in any court of law. Is LGE going to settle out of court with the developer and pay compensation to the developer?
Read my write on Hypocrisy of the highest degree- RM60million compensation
http://eusoon.blogspot.com/2009/11/hypocrisy-of-highest-degree-rm60million.html
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Development brings profits
Any party will know it is true
Otherwise nobody will pursue
Why waste time getting nothing?
It is long years of practising cronyism
Allowing the affected parties to gain upper hand
When the chips are changed or government changes
The cronies will always say “We will sue!”
Heritage recognition isn’t a child play
Mind you it isn’t easy to get recognized
When a State has got her recognition
All interested parties should celebrate
Either in Penang or Malacca
Yet sometimes we will hear
Developers don’t care
Profits come first intrinsic values second
Heritage enclaves must be protected
Guidelines put in place to help its values
Let no others come to jeopadize its prize
It isn’t easy to get recognize
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Just watch and see, this development project will proceed. Guys, wake up. Lim Guan Eng has a hidden agenda. Is Singapore a historic city? NO. Who cares, after all Singapore is a economic powerhouse. Same vision LGE has for Penang regardless of the rakyats interest. Development Above People -DAP.
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Dalbinder,
Have you been to Kereta Ayer aka Chinatown? Katong? Geylang Serai? Most Singapore River? LGE must move towards Singapore’s way. Economy first. People must have jobs & food on the table before talking about lofty things
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ok looes74 , respect ur freedom of reply, cheers … but remember development does not promise a splendid economy.. the recession is hitting singapore.. the happiness of the rakyat shud cme first.. lge jst giving lame excuses against ngo not coming for meeting all… so tht he can make a decision, when public ask why tadak rakyat dulu ur decision, he will say bcos NGO did nt come for decisions.. hahahhaha.. big joke for normal youngsters like me man.. cheers..i dnt (care) hw he manages penang… bt he must AWAS… or else… willl be screwed.. he aint God.. he was just appointed as chief minister.. thts it.. nt chief developer..
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oh yeah..thn when the economy goes into a recession bcos it has no sustainability.. then dun say i miss the beautiful heritage city we had.. peacefull.. happiness.. cool… lots of laughs.. cheers guys.. live ur life..
politicians.. thy aint God…
God is 1…
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he wanna keep the developers identity a secret up to him la.. dnt really care bt thm..keeping it a secret also saves their reputations frm being screwed.. so lets chill on tht n focus on the issue.. whether are we willing to sacrifice our heritage status or not .. or will lge let it happen.. and as usual .. blame bn past actions, blame judiciary if decision is for developer if case goes to court, let bn blame penang for losing melaka status as well (is lge hidden agenda to bring melaka status down also for nt getting RM25 million i guess, so tht he can built more convention centres? lol) .. public will then say.. BN is bad.. blame lge for lost of heritage status of melaka.. because to public nw PR is GOD whether they good or nt.. malaysian humans r lost.. thy dun even knw who is God now.. lol.. wake up guys.. look at issues.. nt race..say no to hatred.. happiness rocks..i m happy..r u ? lol
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Looes74
I am sorry but we are kind of tired of your persistent cheerleading of the “Singapore Miracle”. Are you being employed by Singapore Tourism or do you work for PAP ?
To say that Singapore preserves heritage is a joke. All they preserved was some old buildings with no historic value but more for aesthetic purposes for the visiting guiliable tourists from the West. Singapore’s “heritage” is just as fakey as getting their “Singapore Girl” dressed in kebaya for SIA promo.
Talk to any Singaporean (not some wide-eyed, guilable Malaysian PR) on the systemic and wholesale destruction of heritage and historic buildings in the 70s and 80s.
I admit I admire their public-housing success (probably the best anywhere in the world) and excellent public service. But Singapore govt has no respect for heritage, culture, history or democracy.
If Anil’s a Singaporean, he would be either in Johor Baru in exile or held under ISA by now.
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Come On! LGE, show us your statesmanship and mettle. Do not allow a developer to threaten you, and we can guess who the developer is…
Do not allow a state administration to be held back by a private institution. The good work of your father, will go to waste if you are to mismanage this State, which your father had fought for, for so many decades. Your father failed not because you are better, it is just because of the timings and the sentiments.
Wake up LGE, time for action and let us see your guts to take on such irresponsible developers. The Rakyat and Penang must always come first, and we do not want ugly developments to take place in heritage sites!
Over to you LGE and let us look at your next step to convince the Rakyat that what you preach is what you do.
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Why not name the developer? If the developer still adamant in seeking compensation, I am sure majorities of Penangites will boycott the hotel once it is in operation. The developer has no gut to do so if the developer want to find a living in Penang. So why keep the identity of the developer a secret?
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LGE claimed that no NGOs came forward to defend him when the developer is seeking compensation. Now for whatever know to him, he keep the identity of the developer a secret and he expect us to fight for him. Fight who?
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Guan Eng hits out at NGOs for silence
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/political-news/153157-guan-eng-hits-out-at-ngos-for-lip-service.html
Those NGOs that attend the advisory panel are hand picked by him. Suppose to be PRO LGE NGOs, what a surprise to hear the news that they no longer with him.
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Dont pay a cent, let the battles in court be long and lengthy. Blacklist the developer and the parent company, related company plus directors of the companies so that they cannot start another company.
Must teach (them) a lesson.
But of course this requires (a lot of courage), if (not) dont talk!
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Guys,
Again just wait & see. I believe LGE would do something about it. DAP won’t be that stupid. But follow entirely Anil Netto’s way would lead to total destruction
Remember David Marshall & his ideals! Where is he now?
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So, how’s BN campaign so far to shake up Pakatan Rakyat control states? So far, Johor & Pahang peaceful while many news on Pakatan Rakyat states like Penang & Selangor. Kedah so far so good…not much news. These 2 states news items are quite overkill. So, who’s suing who now? Lets totally change the government at federal level, see how they really handle it. Put in the correct judges that more lean to Pakatan Rakyat since the judiciary (is perceived to be) full of BN leaning judges.
If things take to court, sure developer (is likely to) win one… Then BN will come out and say, see, the Pakatan state government cannot even win court cases….
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BN wont say anything bro.. Public will do special prayers for their God , thts the Pakatan religion and say Hail God, BN(perceived as syaitan for now) screwed us again, decision influence by BN.. this and that, may God look into it and bless them.. hahahahah..the drama continues…nothing is perfect bro.. at least we have Gopal Sri Ram in the Federal Court…
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belive me lge is the best cm for penang you all can have,if you don’t believe me then bring back… ksk
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pakatan wants to change judiciary.. how independent it has not tell us how.. haha.. lol.. youths r laughing.. thy will put pro-pakatan judges and punish BN.. and tell public..who treat PR like GOD.. see.. public will just say GOOD GOOD.. haha.. life is once guys.. have a long life.. life is a movie..we are all acting.. lets watch this movie..when the director is fed up.. thats it .. 2012 ? haha…
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2012 doomsday? lol
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and then after 50 years.. malaysians will say pakatan bad n change government again.. hahahaha.. if malaysians really look at government and not treat 1 side like GOD.. governments can change like a normal thing every 5 years to the best interest of the people.. cool…
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Anil is just a writer, try not to blame him. .. … bro its David Saul Marshall.. not David Marshall.. if just David Marshall , he is a Australian footballer.. hehe..anyways..chill..cheers..
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Folks
I am puzzled. No one even heard of the story of the developer wanting to sue the state until LGE reveals it. We are not even sure if this is … misinformation…
As such, how one can expect the NGOs to jump to his defence ? If this is indeed true, then why LGE is so afraid of revealing the name of the developer ? Or this is because there is no such threat …?
Forgive me for being a skeptic, but if this is indeed true and happened to be one of the 3 developers approved pre-0308 GE, then LGE would have louldy proclaimed how KTK’s past mistakes have come back to haunt him and cost the state millions.
It is indeed highly informative on the fact that many NGOs don’t even bothered to attend the heritage meetings anymore. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that these NGOs would have by know figured out that the Cheap Minister has no interest whatsoever in heritage conservation as compared to turning the state into a Concrete Island @ Penang Sdn Bhd.
DAP – Development Over People
PR – Plunder & Rape
CAT – Condos, Apartments & Townhouses
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NGOs now keeping quiet possibly because of one or more of the following:-
1. Afraid of being sued.
2. Being bought off …
3. Lost interest.
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A. Scare the NGOs
B. Buy up the NGOs
C. Make the NGOs lose interest
D. Employ Cyberjellyfish to jellify NGO blogs
Congratulations, great strategies to handle the Penang NGOs!
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Anil…. what was written @the above is not at all what happened factually & professionally….. This over 10 storey hotel has advise from an architect who propounded the overly done unesco submission dossier…. why silence from the very nose of this heritage expert…. the site has got development approval…. contractors have been awarded the contract to built to over 10storeys……construction is underway…. tower cranes working….. lifts & elevetor containers have arrived on site,….. the immediate surrounding appears to be the post-office & govt building….over 10storeys….. , dewan perniagaan melayu over 10storeys….. it is VERY unfair to the landowner to impose density suppression to ONLY 18 meters……@5storey… we are merdeka… why are we still dikongkong with orang putih punya standard when mppp’s authority prevails….. MY SYPNOSIS IS WHEN U ARE ILLEGALLY & UNFAIRLY SUPPRESSED & DEFINATELY WILL LOSE $$ U HAVE TO SEEK A RECOURSE FOR THE LOSS….. CONTRACTORS WILL SUE DEVELOPER FOR LOSS FROM A VALID CONTRACT……. YES….. I AM CONVINCED HERITAGE LISTING IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PENANG…… AS IT IS “THE ONLY THING THAT SELLS AT TIS MOMENT”– MY ARCHITECT TURNED HERITAGE TILE’S PAINTING PUTS IT TO ME….. LANDOWNERS & ALL IN GEORGETOWN SHOULD BENEFIT — NOT THE FINGER POINTING @TIS MOMENT………
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PR government elected by the people. Give PR a peace of mind to govern Penang. I see the state is prospering now. Like it or not, Penang will follow the footstep of Singapore. Penang will be over developed as I see. I believe that the way people want it. If PR manage it well, dun worry, the people of Penang is not blind, they know exactly what is right from wrong.
I am outside Penang and going to invest property in Penang soon.
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