GEORGE TOWN: The controversial RM1.2 billion Gurney Paragon project in Gurney Drive here will go on as planned.

The Penang Island Municipal Council has confirmed that it would not review the project.

Its president, Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman, said the project was approved in 2006.

"Everything has been well taken care of. There is nothing to review," he told the New Straits Times yesterday. He declined further comment.

Zainal was responding to Penang Heritage Trust's (PHT) call for the state government to review the project.
PHT president Dr Choong Sim Poey had claimed that the massive commercial development was approved by the council in bad faith.

During a press conference last Thursday, Dr Choong revealed the council's reasons for granting the developer, Hunza Properties (Penang) Sdn Bhd, approval in December 2006.

It was reported that PHT had obtained private and confidential documents on the project when it assisted an affected resident who had wanted to bring the matter to the Appeals Board last year.

Dr Chong said the project, two-and-a-half times the size of the Komtar complex, would be an "unmitigated disaster" for George Town.

In granting the approval, the council maintained that its objective was to improve the quality of life for islanders while ensuring sustainable development.

It also declared that it had never acted for the sole benefit of the developer.

The council is also of the opinion that it had met the requirement of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 to conduct a public hearing.

The council reasoned that traffic congestion in Gurney Drive could be overcome with the implementation of the Penang Outer Ring Road and the imposition of a mass transit system, presumably the light monorail transit system.

The Gurney Paragon project consists of two 43-storey service apartment towers, a 37-storey business tower and other commercial buildings.