GEORGE TOWN: Representatives from 24 residential areas in the state told the Penang government today that flood mitigation projects alone were inadequate to reduce and solve flood problems.
They said comprehensive and effective action was needed to put an end to the problems.
They said the floods on Sept 15, which affected more than 100 areas and brought Penang to a standstill, had exposed both short term and long term causes as well as measures which needed to be taken.
"The incidence of the floods in so many areas and the severity of the damage caused was shocking to Penangites, who are already used to floods in the past. This time around, the severity and damage caused was most alarming, causing much hardship and frustration.
"This event and subsequent floods after that are indeed a wake-up call for serious and urgent action. This is not a one-off event and is expected to recur if the authorities do not take preventive measures and deal with the root causes," they said in their collective call to the state government.
The 24 representatives demanded that over-development, the creation of more concrete jungles and hill-cutting and hill slope development be stopped at once.
They said that this could be done by the state government by not approving any further hill-slope and hill land developments, and it should immediately amend the 2009 guidelines on ‘special projects’ to explicitly prohibit all development on hill lands, except if it is for essential public services.
They also demanded for public declaration by the local authorities of hill slopes and areas which were not safe, more tree-planting and creation of green open spaces and regular cleaning up of drains to free from clogging.
"Introduce local plans now so as to control planning and ensure that persons in positions of power and responsibility in government are professional, honest, have integrity and experience and are held accountable for their actions," they said.
"There is also an urgent need to beef up the enforcement and accountability, not just in government agencies, but also in professional bodies, like the Board of Engineers Malaysia."
The representatives of Residents Associations and Management Corporations/Committees said they would also reach out to their elected representatives, urging them to act on the above demands and hold them accountable for their actions.
The representatives were Meenakshi Raman from Tanjung Bungah Residents Association, Dr Ti Lian Geh (Taman Sri Rambai /Taman Lau Geok Swee Residents’ Association, Paya Terubong), Manuel Nicholas (Management Corporation Sunrise Garden Condominium, Sungai Ara), Medalene Sim (Management Committee Solok Kelicap, Sungai Ara) and Jeffery Ho (Taman Sri Nibong Residents Association, Sungai Nibong Besar).
Others include Hor Cheok Weng (Management Committee, Mawar Apartment, Sungai Nibong Besar), Nic Sim (Management Committee, Melati Apartment, Sungai Nibong Besar), Ang Sue Khoo (Pykett Residents’ Committee), Henry Loh (Management Corporation, Diamond Villa, Tanjung Bungah), Terence Nathan (Management Corporation, Marvista, Tanjung Bungah) and George Lee (Management Corporation, Desa Embun Emas Tanjung Bungah).
Also joinng in the collective call were Datuk Kee Phaik Chin (Residents Association of Jesselton), Douglas Fox (Management Corporation of Taman Jesselton), S. Suppiah (Residents Association of Pantai Molek, Tanjung Tokong), K. Suthakar (Tanjung Court Condominium Residents’ Ad-Hoc Group), Soo Ying Hong (Desa Delima Residents Association, Bandar Baru Air Itam) and Choong Ewe Chin (Sri Impian Residents Association, Bandar Baru Air Itam).
Steven Leong Yik Foo (Desa Baiduri Residents Ad-hoc Group Bandar Baru Air Itam), Rama Velayutham (Treasure Ville Residents Association Bandar Baru Air Itam), Khoo Hock Kin (Fortune Court Residents Association Bandar Baru Air Itam), Fadzil Hitam (Desaria Residents Association, Taman Desaria, Sungai Ara), R. Chandra Segar (Management Corporation Vistaria Condominium Taman Desaria, Sungai Ara), Professor. Emeritus D. Gajaraj (Management Corporation of The Cove) and Alan Tan (Management Committee Lavinia Apartment).