Temple Construction at Chee Seng Gardens, Tg. Bunga, Penang

Preamble

Chee Seng Gardens was established since the mid-1960s. There were approximately 80 semi-detached houses. There was open access to the surrounding areas made up of low hills. This entire surrounding area has been subsequently built over with numerous high rise apartments. The open space(s) have thus been replaced with concrete and steel. Since grown with the addition of 2 and 3 storey houses.

To the best of our knowledge there is only one (1) open public area of land measuring approximately 8,000sf.

The Present Scenario

There was an unwelcome surprise recently to see an approved development for a Temple a on a portion to the small open space. Needless to say, the space will spill over beyond the temple boundary. The site is right at the entrance into the Chee Seng Garden area.This is located at the road junction of Jalan Chan SiewTeong and Jalan Chee Seng 10.

We raised the following issues:-

1. Why was there no prior notice of the intended construction given to residents in and around the said area as per City Council guidelines?

1. FYI there was an enquiry by the residents dated 26 February 2014 when there appeared to be some construction works to come. ( Appendix 1 ) The response from

MPPP dated 3 March 2014 (Aduan 02783/02/14) that the matter was being

investigated. (Appendix 2 )

3. As a consequence of the above mentioned response from MPPP all materials and enclosure were completely removed.On 3March 2014, We extended our thanks to

the prompt reply and action ( Appendix 3 )

4. In the following three (3) weeks from 3^rd March the exact same area was again boarded up and construction equipment and materials moved in. This time an official notice board was erected indicating approval of the construction for the Temple.

4. On 29 April 2014another letter was sent querying the approval. ( Appendix 4 )

A follow up letter was sent on 8 May 2014. (Appendix 5 ) As there was no reply,
another follow up was sent on 16 May 2014 asking the same question. (Appendix 6)

6. 16^th April 2014, An email, which was a copy of the MPPP President to a Mr Yew

Tung Seang of MPPP instructing follow up action be taken and a reply to be sent, was

despatched (Appendix 7)

7. On 17 May 2014 an email from the Public Relations Section of MPPP despatched by

Puan Siti Hapizah was received informing that the project had been approve by

MPPP.(Appendix 8 )

8. On 19 May 2014a protest letter was sent to MPPP ( Attn Officers in Charge, MPPP).

( Appendix 9 )

9. On 20 May 2014a hard copy letter from a Tan Lin Hai MPPP was received

informing that the plans for a 3 storey temple on Lot 4569 DTL TB did receive

developmentbuilding plans and duly approved by MPPP.( Appendix 10 )

10. There has been no further correspondence since.

What Next?

All of the above has now left a very bad feeling of a total let down in transparency and proper accountability on the part of local governance.Why?

Why is there this urgency to build another temple in the Tg Bunga area when, to date there already exist more than 12in the vincinity of Tg Bunga.

Why is there total disregard for building and zoning guidelines in which temples or other places of worship have pre-designated areas allotted. Chee Seng Gardens is a quaint, quiet and off-the –main road infrastructure. Why the need for a templehere. To the best of our knowledge there has not been any request by residentsfor a temple in Chee Seng Gardens.

In fact, the proposed site of the new temple flies against logic when there is an existing large temple on the opposite hillock which is a mere 100m away.

There is a very large housing development about to expand further in the neighbouring area of the Tanjong Bunga market. Is this temple move helping to make space for that private development? The coincidence is telling. Who is gaining? The rakjat, as always, are losing.

- David Aeria for TBRA