Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has had a couple of “closed-door meetings” with the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) during which issues close to the heart of developers and the housing industry were raised.
“The meetings have brought fruitful result to both party and it has achieved a win-win situation,” remarked the PCCC on its website.
Really? Read through the minutes of these two closed-door meetings carefully and draw your own conclusions. Pay close attention to the discussion on the threshold for the provision of low-cost housing, back-lanes, building setback minimum distances and major house renovations. You will get an indication of what the developers are seeking and what could be in store for the rest of us.
If you don’t understand some of the terms being used, ask around. We need to educate ourselves on these issues as some of them are crucial for the quality of life in Penang.
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Wira,
That part I can agree
Dear Penang Bolih, If calling names without a debate is “with substance”, then you are relegating yourself to trash can argument which I will not participate. Now go debate this.. “If one wants more privacy, one can always pay more to buy a house with plenty of setbacks. Please note that the setbacks are not the maximum setback allowed. Those are minimum setbacks and one can always pay more for a building with comfortable setbacks. One of the effective ways to reduce the cost of building is to change the building rules on comfort and privacy so that housing can… Read more »
Can LGE please tell us in whose interests he has made these decisions ? For the rakyat, Big Business or DAP ? We voted in LGE to more competent, accountable and transparent in the administration of the state. Instead LGE has practically selling the state little by little to the Big Business. Penang is slowly but surely becoming Penang Sdn Bhd. What is shocking is that some of the decisions made like those pertaining to setback, density and the doing way of the low cost houses requirements have very serious repercussion on the long term especially in terms of sustainability,… Read more »
Dear Hero(Wira), I would be happy to debate you if there was some substance in your argument but sadly that is not the case.
It’s not Highland Towers. It’s Highland Park, Kuala Kangsar. Built during the 70s. Yeah……Not only you risk landslide….Plus, the rubber tree would suka suka fall upon you…..
Perhaps, people’s life in Kuala Kangsar is cheaper than George Aurea. Ah so, George……Bourgeois Pompous Pampered fellow
Dear Penang Bolih,
Calling me stupid doesn’t render you an iota of intelligence. Be noble. Debate me.
Even right here I am the one who stick to the point deliberating on all the issues affecting the people. You, Jessica, do what? Feel sorry for LGE that is the best you can do.
No one dare to tell me that I contribute the least on improving Penang except you, Jessica, who is probably a sleeping beauty of Penang :->) Go to my blog to read about all the proposed that I have drafted for Pakatan state governments. Stop being the apologist for LGE.
http://eusoon.blogspot.com
Mr Dalbinder – what if one puts a nickname on the blog. Seriously, I think you are just picking on the wrong place to state your support. Eu Soon is just shouting his lungs out. I believe he was the one that talks the most and gives the least comments on how to improve. One must have content before talking. What is your views on this? I believe if it was the past government, you can kiss this revelation goodbye. Nothing to hide. Ask Dr Teng or even the real Cheap Minister Koh Tsu Koon – they talk too much… Read more »
Go to my blog to read about all the proposes that I have drafted for Pakatan state governments. No one dare to tell me that I contribute the least in improving Penang except you, Jessica, who is probably a sleeping beauty in Penang.
http://eusoon.blogspot.com
Jessica, You see Gerakan folks love to talk about technicalities. So does some people here. Like I say, everybody has ulterior motives. Yup, me included. Of course, some of noble causes. But however, one got to strike a balance. You can’t appease anybody all the time I got to agree with Anil Netto on certain things. Release the data from the officials on development at Surin. Close teh case once & for all George Aurea & the gang are pretty much the guilty. According to Anil Netto’s standard, they should not be there in the first place. Preservation of nature… Read more »
Wira, yes you Wira, are one dimwitted imbecile who has given a new meaning to the word stupid.
If one wants more privacy, one can always pay more to buy a house with plenty of setbacks. Please note that the setbacks are not the maximum setback allowed. Those are minimum setbacks and one can always pay more for a building with comfortable setbacks. One of the effective ways to reduce the cost of building is to change the building rules on comfort and privacy so that housing can be made more affordable. However, I suggest that important information like building density and setbacks must be made mandatory to be highlighted in their brochures because developers can be unscrupulous… Read more »
At least, Ong Eu Soon is brave enough to put up his name. There are lots of cybertroopers online nowadays, especially from Pakatan Rakyat.
Those of you who are developers know only too well just how to cheat on setback area regulations. Many developments are encroaching onto set-back areas by clever tricks. One simply have to look around to see how developers cheat by encroaching into setback land areas and “sell” them off to the buyers who really haven’t a choice because it is such common practice that one will find oneself without a home if one were to fuss. Good for the developers, most of us are of course oblivious. Can someone enlighten me? I would like to know how can setbacks be… Read more »
Does anyone know the story behind the Ratu Mutiara developments in Persiaran Tanjung Bungah? The Developer Ratu Mutiara had allocated and made promises of land for recreation in the area during the sale of the earlier condos. I wonder what has actually happened between the developers and you know whos. Now every inch of land is being used up, one block after another because density regulations allow it. On one plot too is a big Malay food business. Does anyone know what’s the story? Where is the land where our kids can play. I know, condos are supposed to have… Read more »
Affordable housing on the island for the lower income group? Dream on!
At best they will build you something that is so UNLIVABLE, you surrender and kuai, kuai go stay on the mainland (if you are lucky).
So don’t la give developer and politician bs.
Looes744, you better pray hard, you better not cry… when you are living in a house similar to that of George A and others at the foothill of Surin, or in one of the apartments at the edge of Surin on a rainy, rainy, rainy day.
Ulterior Motives,
When I was born, I live in a house in Highland Tower next to Rubber Tree Plantation in Kuala Kangsar. You know the hill slope is just 5o metres from my house. It expose bare……..Hmmm……Perhaps, my parents should have complained……Nobody seem to care or bother…..Perhaps, we need Anil Netto there…….Hehehe……we can get compensatrion from the developer
By the way, my grand daddy’s house was taken away & converted into a car park in Kuala Kangsar……We need Anil Netto
Our main problems lies with our transport system. Given a proper and near perfect transport system like Singapore and Hong Kong, we will not suffer due to road congestions. Human will keep on reproducing so the new generation should not be deprived of affordable homes and eventually most areas of Penang will be densely populated. Who ever thought of land in Sg Ara to be in great demand 20 years ago. Now even land in Balik Pulau will be target of major development. The previous Mahathir govt is wholely responsible for our problems today. If an excelent, fast and reliable… Read more »
The state government recently decided to increase the density to 280,000 sq ft in built-up area from 90,000 sq ft per 100,000 sq ft of land. I certainly agreed with the decision as it will allow developers to build more and bigger space unit at more affordable price hence giving consumers more choices. Currently low cost unit are those between 500 sq ft – 650 sq ft price at 50,000 – 75,000. Medium cost unit are those between 700 sq ft (price 135,00 to 150,000) & 870 sq ft (price 180,000 – 270,000) depending on the amenities, interior and common… Read more »
Where is the privacy when the setback is only 10 feet? If you are a peeping tom, may be this will be a good news to you. Buy any building less than 5 storey height, you can peep at the girls or boys opposite your unit. Thanks a lot to LGE for making this “wildest dream” come true.
Will be distributing this material at a forum by YB Rayer, ADUN Seri Delima along Lorong Delima 11 (playground beside Rukun Tetangga) at 3pm today. Forum on Crime Prevention. All are welcome to ask your YB, crime prevention first or convention centre.
We must continue to support Anil for his great job. His heart is sincere for Penang. A truely middle ground writer. Attacks both BN and PR without fear or favour. A true hero.
Anyways,
When is LGE having closed door meeting with Penang People.
Less than 2 years in power, LGE already learn to deprive us of a livable environment without any public consultation
LGE should explain why MPPP agree to reduce the minimum of 20 feet setback to meet the request of REHDA as below: Building Height</td. Minimum Distance Up to 4 storey 10 feet 5 storey 15 feet 6 storey & above 20 feet LGE is betraying house buyer by allowing developers to reduce the required setback. This will reduce the property value and is unfair to house buyer. Why LGE must give in to the request of the developers by sacrificing the interest of house buyers? Is this the CM who really care for the people? This is a real bad… Read more »
Ong Eu Soon
Please don’t insult MPPP. If you are the chairman of MPPP, please don’t try to hide behind the Cheap Minister and ask the Cheap Minister to talk on his behalf. You make yourself like our former selloff Minister like lelong prices. Our MPPP chairman has his own backbone and dignity. In shows that Gerakan are really sore and bad losers. Sometimes one win and loses. But gerakan wanted to win eevn they lost the election. The behaviour is like UMNO trying to grab back by enticement and entrapment
The minimum setback of 20 feet is the normal practice of MPPP. Why MPPP reduce it? Under the instruction of LGE? Who is insulting MPPP? LGE or me? Go ask MPPP!
You raise the matter and you should go and ask. You are a big cannon still wait for the court case that you will bring. As far, it is The Maljis decision
Anil We Penangites need to thank you for this expose. If not for you, this … act would have gone unnoticed in this state of Development Above People. These meeting minutes just goes to confirm what we here had been saying all along. This indeed clearly shows our dear Cheap Minister has been (meeting) with the Big Business to turn the Silicon State to a Concrete State. Our Cheap Minister in reality is merely the Construction Minister who work hand in hand with the developers in recklessly “develop” the state (allegedly) without any regards to people’s welfare, views, environment or… Read more »
For your understanding of the term: setback Setback is a distance from a curb, property line, or structure within which building is prohibited. Setbacks are building restrictions imposed on property owners. Local governments create setbacks through ordinances and building codes, usually for reasons of public policy such as safety, privacy, and environmental protection. Setbacks prevent landowners from crowding the property of others, allow for the safe placement of pipelines, and help to preserve wetlands. Setbacks form boundaries by establishing an exact distance from a fixed point, such as a property line or an adjacent structure, within which building is prohibited.… Read more »