Update:(30 December 2013): Not being a real estate lawyer, I didn’t realise that a private company can actually lease the sea from the state! Like most people (including the fisher folk), I was under the impression that the beaches and the sea are supposed to be public property. These comments from a report in The Star today:
Theme Park Concepts and Services Sdn Bhd, the operator of Wet World Wild, described the comments (in this blog) as “strange”.
“We’ve had about 800 visitors so far and they all loved it,” said its regional account director Melvin Kuo.
Kuo also said two fishermen tried to cast their nets next to the park’s floating ramp yesterday.
“They don’t understand that we took a lease for the sea off Moonlight Bay and kept insisting the sea is public property,” he said.
“We are paying almost RM8,000 a year to the state government to lease about 1ha of land and sea surface,” he said.
RM8000 a year? That’s about the annual rental for a small basic apartment.
Some of you commenters are also mentioned in the full report in The Star.
Original post (27 December 2013):
The RM3m Wet World Wild Adventure Park had its soft launch in Penang on Christmas Day.
The park can take some 800 people per day. The project is reportedly spearheaded by Theme Park Concepts & Services Sdn Bhd in collaboration with the Penang Global Tourism Board.
These are the ticket prices:
What do you think of such theme parks? Will they be beneficial for ordinary Penangites in the long run?
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clamouring for free access to beach, free this, free that… and without limitation. where does the money comes from? only way to keep things free is to leave things as they are, ie. undeveloped (ie. live on tree houses with jungle surroundings). when development is needed, money is also needed, a compromised position is also needed. yes, there Must be free beaches (with fair amenities) and also beaches which are developed to attract tourist dollars. For these elite places, locals can’t just complain about cut-throat access at the same time not able to offer better solutions as to how the… Read more »
It has been quite a few months since this article surfaced. I finally took time to read as much as I can on this topic and feel that for the heck of it and for the love of Penang (since I was born there), I will also contribute my 2 cents. I wanna clarify that the Beach at Moonlight Bay Batu Ferringhi was a Public Place and still is. The lease was for the small plot of water where you see those “blow ups” set-up. The public or anyone for the matter is free to enter the beach or water… Read more »
Penangites still go entertained themselves at Pesta at Sungai Nibong?
Sad to see a tragic accident at the Ferris Wheel.
Penang people now more sophisticated in taste and are willing to pay for entertainment.
Pesta however should be kept for the benefit of those who are nolstagic of old days and do not like development, and not willing to pay for new things.
Be very careful of what you said. Many who visited Pesta Pulau Pinang at Sg Nibong were majority Malays from Pulau Pinang, Seberang and Kedah. Have some respect irrespective of social class. Paham tak?
Wow my CM Lim Guan Eng got new Mercedes Benz S300L !!!
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/12/31/Penang-CMs-new-Mercedes/
Anil, somehow I’m so jealous about that.
Don’t get jealous or anxious. Just dig deep into the state coffer of ‘Gau Chan Boh Looi’.
All things BN used & Proton reminder must go. Bad Feng Shui mah.
Next, we may see Komtar Tower also go to be replaced by Darth Vader’s Kucing Lookout Tower.
What’s the law? Can anyone prevent someone else from using the beach and the sea? I know we cannot enter restricted areas with sensitive government installations or private properties. What’s this “lease” thing? OK, it’s a creative enterprise and sport generating income and jobs. But, for how long is the lease valid and why is the cost of the lease so low for such a large area of land and sea? The way I see it is the area is leased to the party to conduct the activities and charge users for using the facilities. Anyone should be able to… Read more »
The CAT laws will sue you, if not in favour of its “lawlessness” of regulation, selling or leasing of public spaces at questionable rates. It is not a question of providing employment, creating business opportunities or serving the tourism industry.
It is questionable issue of this leasing to the wild, wild world of recreation that calls for questioning.
Need we be any wild at it?
If fact, those fishermen can sue the government for restricting their livelihood.
Yes, malaysiafreepress, you are right let the rakyat and in this case, the penang people to re-examine Penang Swimming Club and all other clubs how much they are paying for the rates and the tenure of lease. Why is it that the public properties can be manipulated and be used by the rich only? Let’s protest and make our voices heard. Let’s flood lim guan eng’s mail box which i just did and i also sent one to tg bungah adun, Teh yee chiew abt the water theme park at bf as there is no point of us just making… Read more »
… people of Penang have been cheated of their rights to use this part of the sea and shore with a pittance
Yes, you are right Yang. If we keep our silence, we are inviting DAP to charge when the next time we go to Botanical Garden or Youth Park.
RM8000 a year? That is RM22 a day to lease the sea and part of the foreshore. It is cheaper than renting a hawker stall. We should lease part of the Batu Ferringhi beach and set up hawker stalls, reflexology and what not. The State govt is selling off Penang bit by bit. God save Penang.
If the law indeed allows a private company to lease the sea from the state, then why not open it to all businesses and theme park operators who feel they can carry out such a project. A few malls and shops might also attract visitors. Then our shores can be filled with such theme parks. If it is legal then I cannot say it is wrong, but why is it given to only a select few. Was there an open tender for that piece of sea? Was there an RFP? And you are right. RM 8000 a year for 1… Read more »
Rental or no rental of beach front + sea, it should not have been secretly done in the first place. If Cleaner, Greener Penang is a mantra of sincere publicity & practice, this seaside fiasco is exactly the opposite of what the state gomen is championing. Who are the fools? Even the fishermen were not told of this segregation of public sea, a domain of fishermen decades before the appearance of CAT gomen. And, I surmise the rental rate speaks volume of the desperation to implement theme parks at ‘all cost’ of environment degradation, higher cost of recreation & deprivation… Read more »
The CAT is nothing except scary jokes of the decade !!! RM8000 lease for such a huge area. The world #1 record only by the Cheap Minister.
GK,
Hoarding money for syabas take over? You are now over friendly to Pakatan. Khalid don’t ever bother about cleanness.My Adun is blind maybe since he don’t bother or don’t perform.
rajraman. “Don’t like leave the country” is cheapest way to get publicity like this country belong to her. Najib … you are keeping silence about this statement.
rajraman,
during ancient time dating/courship, there is popular chinese saying, “if you silent / no response, then it means an implicit yes”
Some of the readers here they say they love the nature but i am just wondering during the weekends how many of them go to the beaches and have picnic or they would rather venture into the shopping malls?
Maybe if the beaches were good for swimming and there were more public parks, fewer people would hang out at shopping malls?
Yes just like how I love hiking nowadays with the serenity and natural surrounding
Kevin, actually i was asking about Penang sports club, why there was no sound at that time? Whatever that was done by Gerakan, the penang people just condoned. Why? The rakyat are charmed by Dr mahathir and now najib??? Yang is the worst now, he even said DAP is worse than Gerakan. Honestly, i cannot imagine if today penang is still run by gerakan !!! The penang people complained so much about the bad traffic, and at the dialogue some people from air itam they did agree to the undersea tunnel as they said the traffic at air itam and… Read more »
The RM8k lease is a pittance but the operator still has to plonk down a RM3m investment and run the risk of it being a failure given that it is a new concept here.
Throw in the employment that it generates and the additional attraction for locals and outstation visitors alike, I am all for it although I personally will not want to dip my toes into the filthy and jelly fish infested water of Batu Feringghi.
Come plain truth, do you really think that those few blow up really cost 3 millions
Well, Yang, if you have any proof that the theme park operators are fiddling their capital expenditure figures, I am sure the Inland Revenue will be delighted to hear from you.
The investment the operator puts in is its business and nothing to do with the state. They are putting in the capital because they have calculated that they will be able to make a profit. These people are not out to do charity. Let me put it to you this way. If you own a shop house and I wanted to rent it from you to open a restaurant. Can I say that my capital will be very high, my restaurant will generate a lot of visitors/tourists to Pg and to your shop, plus I will be providing employment for… Read more »
Kevin, your contention that the state has no stake in the investment is naive, to say the least. It creates employment and provide additional attractions for visitors and locals alike. Surely this must be good for the state.
Under the political ostrich, we have been in the backwaters of development for far too long. It is time to move on.
The fact that Penangites are willing to pay RM40 for such theme park shows that the people are in need of entertainment?
Gone are the days (30 years ago) when people are contend with watching RTM (Rihat tunggu mati?)shows on TV at home for amusement…
Quramie : OK fair enough No problem but certainly not using public domain for a pittance to serve the interest of a few. Remember Penang does not belong to LGE DAP or BN but to the people of Penang.
Such open air entertainment is better than having those red-light GRO entertainment, right?
Which consumer segment you are talking about?
Children included?
Quramie, gone are the days (30 years ago) when I could moon-walk (tks Michael Jackson) the Moonlight Bay with my fair+sexy leg girlfriend under the half-moonlight & starry-starry night. Gone are those wet + wild days of courtship at this lovers’ beach FOC but now replaced by Wet World Wild theme park of Got Money Can Enjoy Wild!!!
My goodness RM8k per year and that will be only RM666.66 per month. That is even less than a 30 sq ft kiosk many are paying for in a supermarket. Penangite have been taken for a ride by the CAT that catches the mouses (Penangite) The theme park can accomodate 800 person per day. Lets put it that they have an accupancy of 25%. That will be 200 and only children rates of RM30/= and that will be RM6000 per day x 30 days per month = RM180,000/= per month. Wow a business of RM180k for a pittance of RM666.66… Read more »
RM8K for 10,000 sq metre?
That’s dirt cheap and exclusively yours! What accountant’s (CFO) job is this?
CAT is overworking?
Penang lang ah. Lu boh tat chi!
Correct me if I am wrong. Does Malaysia public beaches station lifeguards ? Who pay those lifeguards?
Public beaches unlikely have paid lifeguards. Swim at own risk. in a way, RM40 fee at WWW can safeguard swimmers at sea; and any mishaps can claim insurance from theme park operators. Anilnetto.com in page 8 of The Star today on this theme park. Looks like grievances from the readers should be able to reach the ears of CAT administrators; and hopefully English print media do publish feedback from state gomen as normally reported in Chinese media. http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/12/30/Park-in-the-sea-runs-into-a-storm/ English readers got to depend on anilnetto.com as they are not able to digest many local (penang) issues covered daily in local… Read more »
Couriered words from tunglang:
“Awareness Mission accomplished. Thanks to Mr Anil + anilnetto.com
Cheers Kopi O kau kau kau.”
I am not against so call “free public facilities”, water is something that one should play lightly about. Unlike first world country take care of the beach seriously, Bolehland seems taking it for granted. And the best part? Correct me if I am wrong, I don’t recall Penang Island has anything call Beach warden. Nope, it is nothing to do with municipal councils, but professional to know about the tides, what to do and not to do. Privatisation part of the beach doesn’t solve the problem either. Unlike typical park, water activities must be constantly monitor like sport facilities, you… Read more »
Penang Gomen can declare earnings from WWW venture; and how the money can be used to improve the lifestyles of typical penangites like offering true fast speed wifi (not just at commercial areas), free public bus rides (apart from rapidpenang) , free tuition for the needy, free recreational activities eg community centres for the elderly and retirees.
.Demi God commercialized the State of Penang. UMNO commercialized Malaysia.Both DAP and UMNO are same.Double blow for Penangites.
rajraman. Penang is most expensive City to live, its more expensive than Kuala Lumpur.
@rajraman666,
Come migrate to a better place, Selangor welcomes you !!! Cheaper cost of living and freer too.
GK, All this while i am staying in Selangor.I am not Penangites.I am interested in Penang Politics because DAP govern this state outright.Majority win.For your information Selangor MB hoarding a lot of $$$.Potholes everywhere.Common property not maintain, but out a sudden pay increase but service sucks.This stingy MB save money even from Public money to get a pay rise. rajraman. No wonder dengue is highest in Selangor from the rest of Federation of Malaysia. I can’t find a blog like Anil in Selangor to whack Khalid.Anyway GK nothing is free in Selangor except a bit of drinking water.My quit rent… Read more »
@rajraman666, I meant more freedom in Selangor. Tomorrow I’m going to pay one of my premise license fee totaling RM 450++ to the state coffer, but I feel good about that because of the way the state admin doing their jobs. The same cannot be said when I was paying for MPPP. Regarding to money hoarding, I heard that they are preparing for Syabas acquisition, so too cautious and stingy when spending money. As always, you can always pinch your local ADUN regarding to potholes 🙂 p.s. Another “tak suka, keluar” statement coming from the rogue coalition. That statement alone… Read more »
Both also sama sama but I believed Penang under DAP LGE is become worse than Gerakan KTK
Penang, the country’s most expensive city.
Read:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/when-even-rm12000-a-month-isnt-enough-to-get-by-in-malaysia
@tunglang,
personally I do not believe such story. Just another illogical / idiotic piece of cyber warfare article. I would say it’s comparable to Awang Selamat’s daily nonsense. Too many unbelievable figures. But as the popular Chinese saying: “up to you to believe it or not”
Cheap and tacky. The Penang government must work out what kind of world we want to live in. Turning a beautiful bay into a plastic fluorescent eyesore for what? Saying that, the bay was ruined by the last government, which allowed someone to build a tom yam shack on the beach. Truly 1Malaysia at its worst: finally we have BOTH parties displaying how little class or taste we have. Does it benefit Penang people? NO. This eyesore is affecting what it is to be in Penang. This needs to stop because why do people visit Penang? A big part is… Read more »
Nothing is free, you guys should know, more so in Penang.
Penang is only going to get more developed and more land scarce whether it is LGE or someone else at the helm.
You cannot have development and still wish it will be like the good old days. It won’t but a lot of good planning helps.
Penang needs more great thinkers to help it to develop well.
We can then have theme parks and also free open spaces for everyone to enjoy.
The big question is: What kind of development (for public consumption) on a small island? Is it for Penangites or businessmen or developers? ‘No Excess Money, No Enjoy’ should never take precedence over affordability, not in the excuses for more tourist attractions. Btw, Pg is already, long ago, a unique tourist magnet but wasn’t planned for a plastic, gaudy Disneyland for speedy-noisy-tourism beyond its own capacity. In thy holy name of Cosmopolitan Penang, this has gone a bit tad too far for money-making for a selected few. Is it complementary to an environment or just a plastic eyesore trying to… Read more »
Wouldn’t you say that Singapore is very developed and land scare? Why is it they have more public parks and beaches than in Penang? Why is it that every suburb has a large local park? Why is it that almost their entire coastline is reserved for recreation (not condos and hotels) and open for all without any charge? Why is it that they have the longest coastal park in the world despite having one of the highest population densities? Why is it they are so developed yet so green and pedestrian friendly? Let’s not even mention they have a population… Read more »
Straits Green – these rich-not-enough developers think Penangites are Kitty-CAT kindy kids.
Blame the authorities for allowing such swap-deals Penangites have to swallow after the fact (which was hidden from public knowledge till launching day).
And the contra of 110 acres
It’s a pity, arrogant and hypocrite DAP .Whats free those days the seas also become commodity to make money from citizen.
rajraman. I noticed the voting pattern of who against the Theme Park and DAP almost negative.It’s looks like DAP cyber-trooper or DAP Political Trader are reading this and they very unhappy to accept criticism.
It’s common with Powerful people in Politics and Business don’t accept criticism from common people’s.This people’s always rights.
I oppose all theme park except Disney land 🙂
While we are at it, let’s also demand for the bridges to be demolished, airport closed and ferries sunk. That will ensure Penang will stay natural and exclusive to true Penangites.
Next phase would be to revoke all private land titles so that we can all share penang equally and fairly.
Finally it would be the responsibility of the state to manage food production and guarantee each Penangites the right to be born into retirement.
p’s. …..I hope penang is suitable to produce coffee so we can continue to enjoy kopi o kau kau.
You lament like an alley cat. Sorry, cat doesn’t & can’t possibly drink kopitiam Kopi-O kau kau.
My advice: Go to Starry-Eyed Buck, order a kitty cat’s milk @ designer’s price tag to drown your sorrows. As a last resort, get 3 joss-sticks from Carnarvon Street & pray-pray facing Komtar Tower.
I’m afraid you’ve missed the point. What people are demanding is for a space that belonged to the public to remain with the public and not awarded to a private company so that it can make money out of public land. Let us put it this way. Wouldn’t it be wrong if I were to come into your house, enclose it and charge money each time you want to enter. Doesn’t it sound absurd. On the other hand if I bought the house from you then I have the right to charge you rental for staying in the house. It… Read more »
Sunny,
If you want to (criticise) people’s (criticise) them direct and name the person.That’s gentleman.What you say is insulting like we expecting freebies.The people’s have says but the Government always ignored.Another UMNO in the making.
rajraman. I always like the comments by tunglang.
Comrade rajaman666, Cheers Kopi-O kau kau + Tongkat Ali 🙂
As if Cosmopolitanisation of George Town is not enough, notwithstanding the extending Coast-Mud-Politan of Gurney Drive, Penangites are yet pushed thro’ their throats another cut-throat theme park now @ the sea. The arrogance of such speedy+silent recreational development (for fear of outrage by concerned Penangites) shows what kind of leadership we have. Commercialism@high end cost is contrary to: 1) what average Penangites are earning to stay afloat in the already chest-deep household debts. Who can afford such high-end theme park recreation but the gaya raya & 1% richie? 2) what was once an entitled public space for everyone’s rights to… Read more »