Compare and contrast the Selangor and Penang governments’ contrasting stands on hill-slope development. Both of them are under Pakatan rule, but look at the difference in their positions. You tell me which sounds more principled…
The Penang government’s position from the Malaysian Insider:
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 — Penang’s Chief Minister wants the federal government to set up a geotechnical engineering unit under the Public Works Department to ensure the safety of all hillside developments.
In light of the latest landslide incident in Bukit Antarabangsa which killed four people, Lim Guan Eng said Malaysia should learn from the painful experience and emulate Hong Kong, where 80 per cent of the buildings sit on slopes.
Says one long-time Penang resident:
A good reflection of where this DAP government stands with regard to hill-slope development. Very business friendly….
Lim Guan Eng knows full well that the Federal Govt will NOT implement such a suggestion. But he makes it anyway so he looks good, like he cares but in effect, he does not. Because, if he really cared (for public safety), instead of taking care of business interests, he would have called for a full moratorium or stop on hill development in Penang.
This perception is by no means an isolated one among those concerned about the environment in Penang. The following is a comment from another long-time resident of Penang, a foreigner who “is saddened by the destruction of Penang’s once beautiful north coast, where Moonlight Bay has become ‘Moonscape Bay’ and a disaster waiting to happen.”
I never thought I would see it but awareness and sentiment finally seem to be moving against the madness of clearing and building on dangerous hill slopes. It is a pity though that Penang is still far behind Selangor in taking the necessary measures to prevent further tragedy and environmental degradation. Selangor Exco member Elizabeth Wong’s article “Bitter vindication” in theSun 10 December p.16 should be read and disseminated widely. The issue really is one of putting “people” ahead of “profits.”
This is theSun report he was referring to:
Bitter vindication
by Elizabeth WongONE of the earliest policy decisions by the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government was to throw out any housing and building applications for Class 3 and Class 4 hillslopes to preserve environmentally sensitive areas and prevent landslides. This was decided at an executive council meeting on April 2.
Selangor became the first state in the federation to have complied with the Federal Town and Country Planning Department’s Total Planning Guidelines 1997 (2nd edition, 2001) which states that no housing development should be allowed on slopes with 25° and above gradients.
Developers thought it was a late April Fool’s joke. Since our ban, they have used all means – the media, blogs, lobbying by state reps and MPs etc to change our minds. We were vilified as “anti-business” and “anti-development”. I have even had some of our Pakatan MPs asking us to make exceptions for Class 3 slopes.
I was told they particularly disliked me and called me “lan-si” (arrogant) just because during a public meeting of developers, NGOs, residents and the exco, one of the key developers questioned how the state government could stop hillslope development, and I answered, “Because we can…” And none were too happy when I had to repeatedly wave the Total Planning Guidelines book at them.
And every couple of months, we have had to repeat our policy decision. Even as recent as last month, developers were insisting that they had the right to develop hill slopes and some had told a couple of exco members that they were planning to sue us. One of them said we would have to compensate them RM330 million (25% of our state budget) for possible loss of profits. Imagine the pressure of a lobby group whose combined income and assets dwarfs the state government!
Saturday’s tragedy proves the correctness of the decision of the state government. But vindication which comes after the loss of four lives and more homes is unspeakably bitter. There are some 5,000 residents living in the vicinity of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide who face uncertainty and may have to vacate their homes.
We ask that developers stop pursuing and pressuring us to review our policy, and instead thoroughly go through every single technicality of their existing hillslope projects.
While Ikram and the Public Works Department are responsible for pinpointing the cause of the tragedy, the state government will immediately review all approved hillslope projects by the previous administration, whether standing or partially built.
Those where there is no construction yet but approved before March 8 should not be allowed to proceed, especially along the same range of Bukit Antarabangsa and Hulu Kelang – which should include Taman Hijau and Bukit Melawati.
We had come too late. Many of the hillslope projects have been standing for a number of years, some were half completed when we came into power. Without proper maintenance of slopes and drainage on these private lands, tragedy will strike after many years, always after the period of indemnity is over. Those areas shown to be prone to landslides such as in Hulu Kelang, where the Public Works Department had flashed its red card in 2005, more stringent conditions will be imposed on existing projects.
All developers and private land owners have to protect and reinforce their own hillslopes if they want to continue to prosper, own property and do business in Selangor. We recently received complaints from Ampang, Kajang, Cheras and Pandan where private landowners and developers have neglected to protect hillslopes and there are already signs of wear and tear. Some have used plastic sheets and some said they were bankrupt and don’t have the funds to repair their slopes. Whatever. If they do not do the necessary, we will blacklist them.
We ask that “people” be put ahead of “profits”.
We are heartened that finally, after eight months of battling the housing industry, the federal government has come to our side to give Selangor, both the moral and policy support it needs, with both the prime minister and deputy prime minister calling for all hillslope development permits to be cancelled.
We can only hope the federal government doesn’t forget Dec 6, 2008 – like what had happened to Highland Towers (1993); Taman Hillview (2002) and Kg Pasir (2006) – which was less than a kilometre from Saturday’s landslide. Lest the lives lost would be in vain.
The writer is assemblywoman for Bukit Lanjan and state executive councillor in charge of the environment. Comment: letters@thesundaily.com
Talking about solving flash flood problem, the Penang state government already run out of idea doesn’t know what to do. Now the state government want us to believe that they can handle hillslope development. Both flooding and landslide are caused by unmanaged stormwater runoff. If on flat ground the state government doesn’t know what to do with stormwater runoff, you sincerely believe it can manage stormwater runoff on disturbed hillslope? Landslide not only caused by unmanaged stormwater runoff, the other important aspect is the site topology which most experts choose to ignore. Whether a hillslope is suitable for development is depend largely on the site topology. Even if the site is suitable for development, legislation enforcement on construction sites are still seriously lacking or non-exist. The question is not whether we have the technologies to overcome hillslope constraints on development, it is about whether the state government have the know how to enforce the regulatory requirements of various environment related enactments and the political will to enforce it.
Take for example the Ferringhi Height incident, there is no effort to divert stormwater runoff from disturbed slope nor is there effort to stabilize the exposed soil. Bare eroding slopes and drain choked with sediment are common not only on Ferringhi Height but also on other construction sites. You can safely conclude that there is no attempt to control the problem of soil erosion at Ferringhi Height, judging from the massive amounts of muddy water flowed down from the hills.
Trust the politicians especially those who like to project pro-development and pro business image, the faster you will discover that you have been betrayed.
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Penang CM is right about the slope maintenance and management. Whatever projects that was approved and carried out by previous administration need to be checked properly and more strigently now. DID need to step up and check all projects in Malaysia. Not only highway projects but also housing development projects that mostly do not have proper irrigation and drainage maintenance from the start.
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People, there will be a joint press conference by TBRA (Tanjung Bungah) & Chee Seng Garden RA (Residents Associations)to raise concern about the highrise hillslope development @ 7.30 p.m. today (Dec 12) at No: 79 Jalan Chan Siew Teong. Residents in the area are suggested to come for support. Thank you.
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I have to agree with hoyohoyo
If you ppl don’t mind me asking – For those who are living in Tanjung Bungah or Batu Ferringhi, shouldn’t you be afraid that your property will slide like the ones in Bukit Antarabangsa?
The logical answer should be yes.
If you answer yes to my question, shouldn’t you move out or sell your property now???
What are you waiting for? For disaster to happen then only you wanna move out? For death to happen then only you wanna abandon your lovely homes?
We all know that houses are costing millions because the area is so exclusive and not densely populated. By asking LGE to stop the hillside developments, will it really guarantee your safety, or do you just want your homes to remain exclusive?
Asking LGE to stop hillside developments so that your houses can remain exclusive is purely selfish. It’s like when the residents association of Bukit Tunku in KL came out to object a hillside development at the foot of Bukit Tunku because they do not want to increase the density of Bukit Tunku. What petit bourgeois!!!
If you are really concern for your own safety, then stop all the BS and sell your house now and move to a safe location. Instead of blaming LGE, local municipal, and what not for disaster that YOU CAN PREVENT BY MOVING AWAY.
By moving away, you will create less pollution in these areas, less vehicles, less movements, less invasive for the vegetation in the area, people will be less incline to buy due to safety, developers will build less homes, and hurray!!! No one will want hillside properties anymore and the hills can stay the way they are!
So… for the petit bourgeois who are living in these exclusive areas, where your houses are so exclusive, MOVE OUT!
That is the only way to stop people from wanting hillside properties…
And by the way, if you don’t vote LGE in the next election, who do you wanna vote? Koh Tsu Koon izzit? You think KTK will even raise an eyebrow when you scream off your lungs outside his office?
All these empty threatens…. for what?
We all know our choices… it’s the lesser of 2 evils.. and it’s obvious who is the lesser evil here.
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Thank god it finally happened in Bkt Antarabangsa again. If this landslide happens in some other non-posh/disposable area, no VIP will come to visit or start any commission or giving a second glance and lost of life will continue.
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>>>And just to correct what commenter mut said, Hong Kong has a total area of 1104 sq km, while Penang state itself has a total area of 1046 sq km. Penang is slightly smaller than Hong Kong. (Hong Kong consists of 3 parts, HK island, Kowloon and New territories aka “san kai”).<<<
If you look at the total land size, they seem alike. But if you consider factors such as population density, we will get a different picture.
If you take in the population figures (HK 7m – 4th densest in world, Penang Island 750K) then you will see we are not that desperate so as to develop the slopes. Both also are actively reclaiming land from the sea.
Penang has still vast undeveloped areas that are more suitable for safe development without resorting to the slopes. I admit some locations are just sexier than most but ask the landslide victims and they will tell you something else. The infra just must be there for the areas to take off.
The HK government has got to make use of the hilly terrain, just they are more professional in doing it.
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Brother, I am posting this because I am very, VERY concern about the education system in Malaysia.
Please refer to the following links:
Math
http://i36.tinypic.com/28b5uzp.jpg
Science
http://i38.tinypic.com/jqhu2r.jpg
In Science ( http://i38.tinypic.com/jqhu2r.jpg ), Singapore scores 32%, while Malaysia scores 3%
In Math, ( http://i36.tinypic.com/28b5uzp.jpg ), Singapore scores 40%, while Malaysia scores 2%
Please brother, please accept my apology for posting this message here. I couldn’t find any other place to send you this message.
I hope you could start a topic regarding education.
Apparently, something is TERRIBLY WRONG !!
The system won’t change by itself. Let’s get the People to change it !
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Anil,
Sometimes I find yr post to have a slight twist and turn of actual facts. Of course constructive criticism is welcome , regardless of who may be, including Pakatan Govt and etc. But yr subject “Contrasting position of Sgor n Penang” is quite misleading. Don’t think you’re right in this sense, both state govts just have different approach, not really a contrasting one. The bottomline, both govts did acknowledge the risk of hillslope development. Both states are very different in terms of geographical landscape, size and etc. It’s common to have different approach towards hillslope development, but at the end one have to ask, are both ignoring the safety of the public in exchange for “profits”. The answer is a clear NO. S’gor govt is taking a more conservative approach, while Penang Govt is taking a more liberal one. Instead of total ban, why don’t learn from someone, i.e. Hong Kong, who have successfully developed hillslope project.
Are u suggesting this is WRONG?
Forgive me if I’m sounding a bit offensive, like ur strong stands on TRAMS in Penang, which to me is totally absurb. It’s not practical at all for a place like Penang, with narrow road, driving attitude of general public and etc. You may have yr own persistence on this subject, but don’t think it’s always right. Likewise for Penang@Wireless project, you sound so critical on this project as well (maybe i’m wrong), like now famous heard, Houlier than thou, health conscious but base on not so substantiate article/report, you blown out the issue thru yr article looks like all Penangites going to die soon, if this project going on, similar like CAP. Without even seeing the positive point out of it.
I did respect yr different view, but instead of providing a one sided negative view, condemning, why not carry the positive one as well. Unless to yr very opinion, there is none at all.
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This talk about emulating Hong Kong… it needs pointing out that their civil service is run on competence. Here, decades of social engineering have created a culture of incompetence, complacency and tidak-apa-ness. We’re light-years behind Hong Kong; we don’t have the human resources in the govt depts needed for this experiment in taming the hills.
Anyway, who really wants our green hills to be concrete mountains the way Hong Kong is?
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In response to “Penangites” — you gotta understand that our Anil here is a left-wing tree-hugging socialist.
Everything that is even has an iota of perception of “business friendly” would automatically be condemned.
To Anil, and SOS Ong, and all those tree-huggers, the best thing the Penang government can do is to demolish each and every building in this state, and let the plants to grow and animals to roam freely.
Yessiree, this, to them, is UTOPIA.
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When a construction project is given approval in Malaysia, the developer is like given a blank check. They can do what they want, until disaster happen, the politicians will come out and blame each other.
Wake up! Until today, our government regardless from BN or PR still fail to regulate construction sites! I won’t mind you develop on hill slope unless you prove that you are capable of enact the various law governing the environment.
Bare eroding slopes and drain choked with sediment are still common sights at all construction sites. You want to emulate Hong Kong? Tell me can you find such type of construction sites in Hong Kong.
We only want to emulate other in virtual reality, back to reality we do all the opposite and selectively emulate what we like to do.
As for Elaine, how about buy a none exclusive home at Paya Terubong , Sun Moon City, Majestic Height or Taman Terubong Jaya, very cheap RM40,000 per unit. Hill slope view! I have a lot of units to sell.
One thing I can guarantee you free rocks falling from the sky when it rains, won’t die, with retention walls no landslide. Can buy very good investment.
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Adun of Tanjung Bungah/Batu Feringhi promised to plant a million trees or so (cannot remember the figure) when voted in. Where are the trees?
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Dear Penang,
It’s Economics! Stupids! Business friendly means more jobs for people especially the poor. Especially when thousands are losing jobs. Aiyah, lets study Hong Kong’s method of handling hill slope development. It will be a win win for all.
Guys,
Penang government has a revenue of 220 million with a 40 million deficit. With no natural resource, have some economic sense while commenting things around here
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RuiRui seth
“Adun of Tanjung Bungah/Batu Feringhi promised to plant a million trees or so (cannot remember the figure) when voted in. Where are the trees?”
Why don’t you ask Guan Eng that question? After all it’s Guan Eng who chose him to represent the people of Tanjung Bunga.
Last time I read about that adun guy, he’s on his bicycle.
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