GEORGE TOWN: Impose a moratorium on hill developments and reassess every hillside and hill slope development project, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) was told.
MBPP councillor Khoo Salma Nasution said the Penang Structure Plan which was valid until 2020 clearly stated that development density was set at 15 housing units per acre (0.4ha) in a secondary corridor like Tanjung Bungah, 30 units per acre in a primary corridor and 87 units per acre allowed for transit-oriented development.
She lamented that this was not implemented but instead the state government raised the development density to 128 units per acre.
“When development is not planned according to the right principles, disaster is likely to happen. The council needs to reaffirm all policies, processes, and guidelines to protect our hills and stop high-risk development," she said in her adjournment speech during a full council meeting at the City Hall here today.
It was believed that she was referring to the deadly landslide in Lengkok Lembah Permai in Tanjung Bungah last Saturday which claimed the lives of 11 workers. Three others were injured.
Penang Gerakan has called on the state government to impose a moratorium on all hill slope developments in Penang above the stipulated ecological and safety thresholds.
Amongst the issues discussed during the 'Penang Flood: A Call for Action' dialogue session held yesterday was halting the hill slope projects and the reason behind the occurrence of landslides.
Khoo who was also present during the dialogue session yesterday promised to be the voice of the concerned non-governmental organisations which had expressed their disappointment over continued hill side development in the state.
Today, Khoo also told the council meeting that MBPP should be given the freedom to discuss development issues thoroughly in order to advice the state government on suitable policies, rules and guidelines.
She expressed shock as to learn that certain policies and guidelines were made at state level and then passed down to the city council without discussion.
She said that MBPP as a body had all the expertise and technical experience to handle physical development planning.
“The council should ensure its own rules are not compromised and they do not need to bow to development pressures or to political pressures, just because Penang is a 'land-scarce' state.
“The council is tasked with spearheading the city’s physical development according to the Town and Country Planning Act and the State Structure Plan 2020.
“Council’s rules and guidelines must obey the Penang Structure Plan, as well as minimum safety and environmental guidelines,” she added.