Again news has resurfaced about the proposed demolition and relocation of the Butterworth air base, and again this heart was scarred, crying out for restraint on the part of developers who see money in everything.
There was respite though, when it was reported in this newspaper last Wednesday that the prime minister had asked for more studies to be carried out before any decision would be made on the matter.
That came as a relief. At least bulldozers, cranes and construction materials would not invade the peace and quiet of the area for now. Better still forever.
The proposal through a private joint-venture deal is to redevelop the air base as part of a land-swap arrangement with the Federal Government. It was reported several months ago that the companies involved would develop a RM3 billion air force base near Tasik Gelugor. The site of the present air base, it seems, would be turned into a “mixed development” commercial project.
The air base, opened in 1941 and known then as the Royal Air Force station, served to help the British ward off attacks by the Japanese during World War 2. It also played a pivotal role during the Emergency from 1948 to 1960, as a check against communist insurgents.
In 1957, the Royal Australian Air Force occupied the station and it became the home to Australian fighter and bomber squadrons stationed in Malaya during the Cold War era. In 1988, the Royal Malaysian Air Force took over the air base and renamed it RMAF Station Butterworth.
However, it is not just the historical value but the whole character of the place, wherein lies an excellent seaside promenade of swaying palms, that is at stake here.
I think this stretch is among the most pristine in the northern region, not unlike Terendak Camp in Malacca or Port Dickson camp.
The first time I wrote about the subject in this column was two years ago. And since the matter has stubbornly remained, excuse me for tenaciously visiting it again.
It is mainly for sentimental reasons shared by many people of Seberang Prai, formerly known as Province Wellesley.
Though born in Kedah, I had lived in Butterworth for many years and have my in-laws and many relatives residing on the edge of town, Bagan Ajam right up to Teluk Air Tawar, where the air base is located, and beyond till Kepala Batas. Everyone is upset that this quaint part of Butterworth is going to lose its aesthetic character as it may have to make way for a metropolis with hotels, theme parks and shopping centres.
My article drew responses from retired servicemen from as far as England and Australia expressing sadness, with Garry O’Bree of Queensland, Australia, saying he was one of the “ex RAAFies” who looked upon Butterworth and Pe-nang as a second home.
Another response from “Saadullah” said he would be sad to see the air base gone. The proposed new development, he said, would destroy the character of the place.
It was reported that TSR Capital Bhd, together with the Armed Forces Fund Board and Pembinaan Bukit Timah Sdn Bhd, would develop the 407.52ha site into an integrated mixed-use project.
The project has a reported RM10 billion potential gross development value, in addition to relocating and establishing a new RM3 billion RMAF base. It is understood that the new site will be around Ara Kuda, near Tasik Gelugor. And life is going to change considerably for the people there who are so used to the tranquility of rubber estates.
In the meantime, it is not hard to anticipate the economic potential of the proposed project taking off in the old Mata Kuching, especially with news that the Penang government is also planning to have another link to the island via an undersea tunnel stretching from the Bagan Ajam area, not far from the air base site, to Bagan Jermal or Tanjung Tokong on the island.
It looks like the premier landmark is set to be swallowed up by the progress of time and lure of money.
Syed Nadzri is former NST group editor