After stalling RM25bil project, PGCC Campaign Group calls for Local Plans in Penang

Fresh from their success in stalling the PGCC project, the civil society PGCC Campaign Group held a press conference yesterday to put forward their position and demands.

Essentially, the civil society groups are asking for Local Plans to be prepared first – with full public participation – before any development can be approved.

Once the Local Plans are finalised, any major development should have a detailed EIA, which should also include a traffic report and a flood risk assessment. These detailed EIAs should be prepared by competent, independent consultants.

Here is the full press statement:

Penang government should put Local Plans in place before allowing further development in Penang

The PGCC Campaign Group would like to make clear its position on the proposal to develop the Turf Club land.

Before all else we would like to emphasise that, contrary to some press reports, the opposition to this project did not come solely or even primarily from the residents of Jesselton. Most of the anger came from ordinary Penang folks, and it was widespread; bridging all racial, generational and income groups.

We are grateful that the CM has put a temporary halt to it, and without being churlish we hope it is not a mere election ploy.

Be it as it may, we wish to state in unequivocal terms that the Chief Minister, no matter how well meaning or how well experienced he is, is not the person to determine how the site should be developed.

The international team of experts that Dato Patrick Lim is assembling, no matter how eminent, also has no right to dictate what should be built on this lovely site.

The only group that has the sole right to make that decision is the people of Penang. The site is so big and prominent as a landmark that it belongs to all of us. Any development there will change the face of the Island and will have far reaching consequences (social, cultural and traffic) for all of us for generations to come.

Every pre-requisite of good democratic governance requires that the public (and not just the immediate neighbours) should be consulted. This is why local plans are required under the Town & Country Planning Act, which give an opportunity for every member of the public to give their views and participate in the decision-making of what the details of development in the area in question should look like. The Local Plan is an essential planning document, and it is our stand that no plan should even be considered before a Local Plan is finalised.

At the same time we wish to be assured that the Local Plan will be done fully in the spirit of the Act; that the public will be consulted at all stages; that their views will be given proper consideration; and the Planning Committee will operate transparently.

This principle of involving public participation at every level of decision-making is further underscored by the commitment of the Malaysian government to the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 which was the outcome of the Rio Summit in 1992.

We will resist very strongly any attempt to develop the Turf Club land without a Local Plan or to subvert the planning process or the Local Plan by reducing them to a series of pro forma exercises.

In addition, the State Government should expedite Local Plans for the whole of Penang, prior to further developments in the State, given experience of the PGCC and other haphazard developments which are taking place.

Following the finalisation of the Local Plan, we also request the State, the Municipal Council of Penang (MPPP) and the Department of Environment (DOE) require project proponents of any major developments to prepare a detailed EIA, including a traffic report and a flood risk assessment. These studies should be done by reputable and independent consultants chosen by the MPPP and DOE (and not by the project proponent).

In this regard, we were most outraged that the DOE in the case of the PGCC project, had approved a preliminary EIA without a consideration of the traffic study and without an opportunity for public review and consultation. The DOE ought to have insisted upon a detailed EIA, given the nature and scale of the project.

Dato Patrick Lim has in several public statements said that he wants to be a responsible developer and has given the assurance that he will abide by all local and international guidelines to create a sustainable project that will be acceptable to all. If he is genuine, and is not just making a public relations statement, he should not object to any of our proposals in the public interest.

In summary, our position is this:

• There should be no development until a Local Plan is in place for the Penang Turf Club site.
• In addition, the State Government should expedite Local Plans for the whole of Penang, prior to further developments to ensure proper and effective planning.
• The Local Plans should be done transparently with full public participation.
• Detailed EIA, including a traffic report and a flood risk assessment, by competent and independent consultants are required for any development in the present and future Turf Club area once the local plans are finalised.

We will be extremely upset by any attempt to circumvent any of the above recommendations.

Ahmad Bin Chik
for and on behalf of the PGCC Campaign Group

• Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)
• Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)
• Penang Heritage Trust (PHT)
• Aliran
• Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)
• Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)
• Citizens For Public Transport (Cepat)
• Jesselton Heights Residents Association
• Residents Association of Jesselton
• Tanjung Bungah Residents Association
• Badan Warisan Malaysia
• Friends of the Penang Botanic Gardens