Two major news stories in Penang. Story number one: The raid on a M Mall, a shopping complex run by MBI International, yesterday hit the headlines. Officers from the police, Bank Negara, the Companies Commission and the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism swooped on the mall after MBI fell under Bank Negara’s alert list. This comment in a Star report caught my attention:

“This is not like (failed money game) JJPTR. MBI fulfilled its pro­mises. What wrong has M Mall done?” Jeffrey, a long-time MBI member, said.

He said he enjoyed spending his virtual money in M Mall, especially on dinners with his wife and children at the mall’s restaurants.

“We can buy everything from household appliances to handphones with our points. We can even partially pay for cars and properties with our points,” he said.

Jeffrey maintained that despite the raid, his virtual money was still intact when he checked online.

They can buy cars and properties with their points? This is news to some of us. Story number two: Residents in Sungai Ara are in a state of shock and disappointment after the High Court decided in favour of Sunway Group in judicial review sought by the developer thus overturning an Appeals Board decision in favour of the residents. This report from The Star:

In his judgement, Justice Lim Chong Fong said the planning permission granted by the then Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) on Feb 21, 2012 in respect of Sunway City’s application to develop a gated and guarded housing scheme is confirmed and maintained.

He said the proposed development, comprising 600 landed and high-rise units with two clubhouses, was below the maximum density.

The zoning of Lot 14345 for general and low density housing was made under Pelan Dasar Perancangan dan Kawalan Pemajuan which was approved by the State Planning Committee (SPC) on July 16, 1996.

Lot 14345 is situated more than 76m above sea level and approximately 43% of the plot has a gradient exceeding 25 degrees.

Justice Lim said MPPP could process the developer’s application for the project without having to refer to the SPC as it came within Category Two of the SPC Guidelines for ‘special projects’.

I haven’t seen the details of the judgment but I think the decision will have implications for what kind of legal position the Penang Structure Plan. Let’s see what the residents decide to do next, though they probably have financial constraints. Legal costs were awarded against them yesterday.