Penang Forum has responded to criticism of its letter to Unesco over the plan to construct a massive transport hub in an area designated as an arts and heritage district.
Penang Forum’s original letter to Unesco can be found here, while the statement in response to criticism of the letter is reproduced below.
Comments made at the launch of the heritage and arts district at Sia Boey on 6 September 2015. How times have changed.
“…the heritage shophouses will be retained, where ever they could be, we will make sure that they will also be able to contribute to a land and air of authenticity, and of course, the ambience and atmosphere necessary to signify that this is a Penang heritage and arts district.”
Penang Forum has been targeted for writing a letter to Unesco about its concern about the threat to the heritage of George Town world heritage site caused by the proposed massive transport hub in the historical Sia Boey area.
It seems like some people are jumping up and down after the archaeological discoveries at Sia Boey received tremendous coverage in the media, scuttling the plan to build a massive transport hub there.
Penang Forum has released a statement responding to the chief minister’s comments saying that trams are more expensive:
Penang Forum (PF) feels duty-bound to reply to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s direct accusation that we are being emotional and that our statements on the Penang Transport Master Plan are not based on facts.
Archaeologists working at the Sia Boey site have discovered the remnants of an old police barracks or station near the old entrance to the Prangin Canal from the sea.
While much attention has been given to Botak Hill, that controversial hill actually blocks the view of many Penangites from the extensive hill-clearing and scarring further inland at Paya Terubong, especially at Bukit Kukus.
In the months before the general election in 2013, the DAP vowed it would go ahead with the tunnel if it was returned to helm the state government. It was a juicy carrot to dangle before voters tired of the privatised (and then run down) ferry service and to alienate critics. It also added legitimacy to the plan to reclaim land off Gurney Drive for massive property development.
More land reclamation in Penang. This time in front of Queensbay, south of the first Penang bridge, almost facing Pulau Jerejak, and north of the second Penang bridge.
Yesterday, Sarawak Report made an explosive allegation about an inflation of costs in the proposed East Coast Rail Line from RM30bn to RM60bn so that 1MDB debts could be paid off.