Eco-stream or eco-tampering? (The view looking towards Coronation Camp)
Thanks to the blog reader who sent me the above pics.
In case you are wondering what’s going on at the Penang Botanic Gardens, the pictures above show the “Eco-Stream Walk” under construction.
The is one of four new “attractions” in the pipeline, the others being a bambusetum (a bamboo park), a garden mall and a water garden. (What’s a ‘garden mall’ and a ‘water garden’? These will be just outside the present entrance.) Work is due to finish in 2010.
The “Eco-Stream Walk” will be 300 metres long, following the stream from the nursery in the Gardens to a parking area near Waterfall Road.
They are also building a ‘Tourist Pavilion’ opposite the Horticulture Centre – gallery, souvenir shops and information booths. (More concrete in the gardens?) Wouldn’t one information booth suffice?
In a future phase, a bamboo village will be added.
Why not, when you have RM7 million funding from the Tourism Ministry under the Ninth Malaysia Plan? Let’s build some “attractions”. After all, we can’t stand seeing open green recreational spaces around. We must “develop” them.
I called up Kanda Kumar of the Malaysian Nature Society, Penang chapter, to find out what he thought about the “Eco-Stream Walk”. He didn’t sound thrilled at all.
He said he didn’t know what was so “eco” about it when they are clearing the vegetation from the banks of the stream, raising the level of the banks and putting in some kind of matting for the pedestrian walkway.
Maybe they think they can improve on Nature?
He pointed out that the original plan for the walkway was so much simpler.
Blog reader Special Agent Mat Bond says:
Thanks for highlighting this!
This is exactly what we have been fighting the BN fellars in KL, especially DBKL and their “Naik Taraf” projects at Lake Gardens….
The lake gardens in KL have endured so much of silent trauma in the name of “Naik Taraf” every time a mayor changes; if only the trees can talk…
Unnecessary water features, whole gardens and greenery being displaced for a “piece de resistance” that will inevitably need more funds for upkeep and maintenance!
It’s really beyond me how they just can’t let it be! Use the funds to stabilise weaker trees, treat the termites and plant more trees, green the area and not grey it!
My biggest fear is your PBG graduating to a Lake Gardens in a few years…
Blogger Lilian adds:
And they evicted the scouts out of the Coronation camp! I also didn’t notice this project until I asked my sons, “Eh, you scouts never go camping anymore?”
He said, “The camp is gone-lah!”
As it is, the Botanic Gardens are not receiving much tourists so what’s the point to make more attractions?
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The Coronation Camp was taken back in April 2006 when Penang was still under the Barisan Nasional Government. The President of Penang State Scouts Association in 2006 was YAB Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon. In 2006 both the Chairman and Scout Commissioner were replaced. YB Teng Chang Yeow became the Chairman for the Scouts Association in Penang and the Haji Zulkafli Kamaruddin the assistant to the Deputy Chief Minister became the Penang Scouts State Commissioner. Thus, lilian, that’s why you didn’t know hat the coronation camp was taken back by the Sate Government as the top three post in the… Read more »
Honeybunny: Im going to vote for BN in the next election. I voted DAP not bcause i anti development but because of the cronyism.
Pls check if your head is screwed on the correct way. This useless waste of public money is a FEDERAL govt initiative. So why are you threatening to vote against Pakatan Rakyat?
Along with neon coconut trees that cost RM22 million, RM9 million per annum rental for the PM’s official residence,
this is how Umno/BN has siphoned off money from the rakyat… for decades.
Again, your writing lacks creditiblity. do some research first before you even write anything.
why keep botcotting at something doesnt really matter? use it on something that really do matter instead!
wifi also ppl wanna boycott. GET A LIFE
Well, it does look like it’s the handy work of the moronic BN folks, rather than LGE…after all, the present PR State Govn prob doesn’t have the luxury of that money to splurge.
And yes, I shed tears whenever I visit Lake Gardens…….their “beautification” projects have made that place more tacky than anything else………so sad!!!
Why not, when you have RM7 million funding from the Tourism Ministry under the Ninth Malaysia Plan?
Sure or not?
With all the money disappearing from the Tourism Ministry, can it do anything meaningful.
Ofcourse it’s gonna look like that because the garden is in the process of change.dont overreacted la guys. let see what happen when the project is completed. It’s not fair to judge anything now. dont u guys think so?
After reading all the comments or some of the comments that people gave in the articles or others. Felt that there is a lot good and bad comments about the present govt. Like this articles, when the govt didn’t upgrade, you all complain. And when they did, you all complain. Give them time to performlah. They are like babies trying to walk so let them learnlah. Don’t expect a baby to run the moment they are born right? Sometimes find out first before commenting. I do believe the govt wanted to change, so give them some time lah. It’s not… Read more »
The scouts of Penang Free School are camping in their school field plus they got to go buy their bamboo instead of harvesting from the forest… you took away the camping site from Penang youths!
Please, Please. Do not blame Pakatan Government. You can read my story here
http://forestexplorers.blogspot.com/2008/11/bamboo-gardens-blame-barisan-najis.html
First, find out who approved the project. Who is responsible for continuing it?
Then, we hantam the guy responsible. Don’t assume that everything going on in Penang is the work of LGE & team. He just took over for 8 months, for goodness sakes.
It is good we highlight these issues. But let the current Government to investigate and stop what is not right.
Good news everyone. From now on, town councils will be accountable to residents!!!!!
I just pray that the new administration will not sacrifice nature for the sake of progress.
While johor keeps attracting investments worldwide; Iskandar Malaysia is still maintaining its investment momentum despite the slowing global economic climate, raking in RM40.25bil in investments since its inception two years ago. 85.6% of total investments targeted to flow into the corridor by 2010. Iskandar Malaysia will have a host of job opportunities for malaysian and Iskandar project can absorb the retrenched workers in SG due to the global economic slowdown. Newcastle University of Medicine plans to set up a medical faculty to known as Newcastle University of Medicine, Malaysia in Iskandar the southern development corridor in Johor, by 2011. Penang… Read more »
Im going to vote for BN in the next election. I voted DAP not bcause i anti development but because of the cronyism.
Mr Anil what is your problem really. just let them build la what also u wanna boycott..
This is not PR project. RM7Million from Tourism Ministry under 9MP.
is Azalina’s baby I presume. As mentioned by BN leaders, tourism funds will be dispersed and use by them and not by state govt. So this is one way to use our hard earned tax payer money to (benefit whom?) No doubt the tender goes to their cronies.
Ahso, the 800 parking lots in youth park is to cater for this tourist attraction?
MAKE YOUR OWN BATTERY-POWERED LAMP FOR ANTI-ISA VIGIL For photo, see: http://iwfrpk.blogspot.com/ No candles? No problem: 1. Get a papercup. 2. Get a torchlight. 3. Use a pin or needle to poke holes into the paper cup. 4. Tape the papercup to the top of the torchlight with some duct or cellophane tape. 5. Done. TRAVEL OPTION 1 If you’re taking LRT to get to the Anti-ISA Vigil at MBPJ (Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya), get off at Asia Jaya Putra LRT station. If you know the walking route, you can take a 15 minute walk to MBPJ. Otherwise, you can… Read more »
OMG, what happened to the Botanical Garden I once knew? I could not even recognized it now.
So what, Anil? Every single thing done by the government is wrong? Without such projects in the past, I doubt Botanical Garden would even exist.
Thanks for highlighting this! This is exactly what we have been fighting the BN fellars in KL, especially DBKL and their “Naik Taraf” projects at Lake Gardens…. I am gob smacked the CAT fellars have started this albeit in a smaller scale at the PBG! The lake gardens in KL have endured so much of silent trauma in the name of “Naik Taraf” every time a mayor changes, if only the trees can talk…… Unnecessary water features, whole gardens and greenery being displaced for a “piece de resistance” that will inevitably need more funds for upkeep and maintenance! Its really… Read more »
Looks like the PKR state government is trying to outdo the previous Gerakan government. I thought they say money is in short supply?
And they evicted the scouts out of the Coronation camp! I also didn’t notice this project until I asked my sons, “Eh, you scouts never go camping anymore?” He said, “The camp is gone lah!” As it is, the Botanic Gardens are not receiving much tourists so what’s the point to make more attractions.
BTW, I think trams are a good idea ‘cos Penang town is quite small and the roads, erm, now that they are mostly one way…seem even more circular…..round and round we go in Penang