This is a close-up of what’s happening in “Miami Bay” (why can’t they be more original in their names?) (Photo credit: Y C Sin)
Anyone know who the developer is?
Yes, the rape of the hill-slopes continues along the northern coast of Penang Island…
A sad Clearwater mourns the loss of the Penang he once knew:
I worked in Penang and stayed at Tg Bungah from 1980-83. Those were care-free times, Penang was still a paradise on earth and over-development an unimaginable event in this idyllic island. Yes, good jobs were scarce then but life was laid back and cost of living decent. My friends and I used to wind-surf weekends at Batu Ferringhi, where tourists sunbathed and waded in the sea; no problems with water quality.
Flash forward to 2008. I don’t want to return to see what greed and uncontrolled development has done to the environment on Penang Island. Each time I return, I am more appalled at the destruction that short-term policies have wrought in the name of progress on the Pearl of the Orient. It is heart-breaking. It is a complete turn-off. It is time to say good-bye.
and look at the damage done…
The result of the rape: The once deep blue waters stretching out to the Andaman Sea in the north are now a murky brown.
If you are in the air, you can see clearly the ring of brown sedimentation around Penang Island. Would visitors want to come to an island like this? Do Penangites feel proud of this? What’s happening to the marine life? How is this affecting our fisher folk?
Say thanks to our “environmentally conscious” developers and to the ex-politicians and ex-councillors who approved such projects.
Should I ask… where is our Department of the Environment?
And why don’t we such pictures in our newspapers? Afraid of losing ad revenue from the developers?
Kah Seng reports:
For a 2006 Feb photographic account of hill cutting damages (up to that point), please see
http://malvu.org/html/temp/reports/hillcutting/It’s old info but is useful for historical background. A couple of BF projects had not yet started at that time.
Penang Hill side roads are also said to be in a state of paralysis from land slides.
Kabler reports that things are even worse down south in Penang Island:
You should go to Sungai Ara. It’s even worse, more like a gang-rape, I would say. Watch for the big “Setia Pearl Island” on the hilland – you will see what I mean. They’re literally bombing the hill by day just to make way for a three-storey housing project, which an Average Joe like me won’t be able to afford!
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I would leave Holland = The Netherlands out, because for many, many centuries this country has made sure that its land, which is below sealevel, is protected my an ingenius system called THE DELTAWERKEN as well as canals. apart from “THE DELTAWERKEN” The Netherlands is known thruoughout the world for its excellent knowledge of reclaiming land as well as the dyke consttruction together with the famous mills, who by the way are not all just for the benefit of tourists but also to help maintain the waterlevel. look at the famous KINDERDIJK/The Netherlands where approx. 20 mills keep the land… Read more »
Why not just change the country’s name to ..er…BOLEHLAND or CANLAND (they have ENG.LAND, THAI.LAND, GREEN.LAND, NEW ZEA.LAND, FIN.LAND, IRE.LAND, PO.LAND, SWITZER.LAND, FALK.LAND, HOL.LAND, any other missed out?)…since most , if not all, of us are familiar and more comfortable with this…any other suggestion/s??
This is just for fun…do not ISA me…..kakakakaka
These are are connected to politics ma!
Money = Power and vice versa.
I worked in Penang and stayed at Tg Bungah from 1980-83. Those were carefree times, Penang was still a paradise on earth and over development an unimaginable event in this idyllic island. Yes, good jobs were scarce then but life was laid back and cost of living decent. My friends and I used to windsurf weekends at Batu Ferringhi, where tourists sunbathed and waded in the sea; no problems with water quality. Flashback to 2008. I don’t want to return to see what greed and uncontrolled development has done to the environment on Penang Island. Each time I return, I… Read more »
I believe we still have time to make remedies. I still have high hope in the person by the name of LGE. Do not waste time as we need to quickly come out with the best option of avoiding further destruction and disaster. If we don’t act on it who will then bother, just ignore the culprit for the time being and environment protection is paramount.So say it-our country,our island and our environment and let’s protect this gift of GOD.
You should go to Sungai Ara. It’s even worse, more like a gang rape I would say. Watch for the big “SETIA PEARL ISLAND” on the hilland you will see what I meant. They’re literally bombing the hill by day just to make way for a 3 storeys housing project, which and average joe like me won’t be able to afford!
Why can’t they be more original in their names? Elementary, my dear Anil. They’re trying to pass off their ‘architectural masterpieces’ as those depicted on CSI Miami. We also have Bayswater condominiums, so presumably soon to follow will be Marble Arch, St. John’s Woods, Notting Hill Gate and Queensway condos, though the last one has had the ‘w’ changed to ‘b’ and is currently in use. That well preserved TV soap opera queen Joan Collins once remarked, during a visit to KL, that she was surprised to find some people here actually living the lifestyle of her soap opera characters.… Read more »
The big picture is a necessary context from which to begin to understand these environmental problems.
The name Miami Bay has been there for quite some time. I as a Penangite is proud of what it is being named. Why can’t there be two places with the same name? Afterall, there are other Georgetowns in this world, and no one ever complained. I must admit the waters around Penang are really dirty, but we cannot solely put the blame on a few recent developers. As a matter of fact, the pollution has been building up gradually since many years ago. I think its a collective result of irresponsible developers, factories, but most importantly (and surprisingly) Penangites… Read more »
The developers are getting away with it primarily because of the approvals given by the previous BN administration and for that, the person who is ultimately responsible for the destruction of our beloved island has got to be the KTK – our Ko Tee Koon (“still sleeping” for those of you who do not understand Hokkien) CM of the past 18 years and under whose tenure, the approvals were given.
my goodness Anil. I had a heart attack when I read the title. Upon reading your blog, heart palpitation sizzled. What a suspense. lol
For a 2006 Feb photographic account of hill cutting damages (up to that point), please see
http://malvu.org/html/temp/reports/hillcutting/
It’s old info but is useful for historical background. A couple of BF projects had not yet started at that time.
Penang Hill side roads are also said to be in a state of paralysis from land slides.