More and more people in Penang are demanding transparency as mega-projects advance without proper local plan oversight
This piece, published in Aliran, was written by Rebecca Duckett.
Local residents are stakeholders in the development of Penang. Yet Penang Island has no gazetted local plan.
Development projects receive approval without transparency or accountability despite the public’s right to engage in future plans within their own neighbourhoods.
Transparency and public participation, as required in any local plan, is crucial to the democratic process to ensure transparency and accountability by the authorities. Read the full article on the Aliran website.
Do you agree? Is it a serious problem? Share your thoughts below.
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George Town Festival
2 & 3 August 2025 (Sat & Sun)
⏰ 5pm – 11pm
Padang Kota Lama, George Town
️ Free admission
From projection mapping to live music, a glowing market, and a concert in a moving bus, “After Dusk” is set to transform Padang Kota Lama into a wonderland of after-dark experiences.
The Penang Green Agenda 2030 is a state-wide initiative aiming to make Penang the greenest state in Malaysia by 2030. It focuses on transitioning to a green economy, implementing innovative governance with public-private-people-professional partnerships, and promoting sustainability-led development. The plan also envisions Penang as a high-income, caring, inclusive, low-carbon, and resilient state by 2050, emphasizing both environmental and social well-being.
Green initiative for Penang Beach Street:
Beach Street is incorporating more trees and pocket parks to create a cooler and more pleasant nvironment.
Pedestrian-Focused:
Footpaths are being widened to make walking more comfortable and enjoyable.
Car Reduction:
The number of parking spaces on Beach Street is being reduced, encouraging people to use alternative modes of transport, such as LRT, bicycles, and e-scooters.
Penang is implementing a plan to integrate greenery into parking spaces as part of its broader Penang Green Connectors initiative and the Penang Island Climate Action Plan 2030. This includes using grass pavers in car parks and creating a continuous network of green spaces. The goal is to enhance urban resilience, reduce vulnerability to climate change, and improve the overall environment.
here’s a far simpler solution. Remove the cars. Even taking away parking from one side of the road would be enough in most of Georgetown.
There should be a completely pedestrian only street from Chulia to Prangin Mall, put it in temporarily and watch how busy it will get with walking tourist traffic.