One of the high-rise projects in Batu Feringgi (1 Island Resort)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Pictorials of what's to come in BF and TB
Fancy a whole city on the hill in Batu Ferringhi that will bring more traffic? These pictures are what Ong Eu Soon's blog below is referring to.
One of the high-rise projects in Batu Feringgi (1 Island Resort)
One of the high-rise projects in Batu Feringgi (1 Island Resort)
Monday, March 15, 2010
Want to know what's coming up in Tg Bunga and Batu Ferringi?
Blogger Ong Eu Soon has put together a worrying list of developments that includes the Batu Feringgi Island Resort developments.
He started by highlighting the Penang state government's stealthy increase of density of units per acre. Perhaps not all the projects he listed qualify as receiving "final approval" under the LGE administration, but it is enough to cover our hills with concrete.
See http://eusoon.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-trend-of-change-for-penang.html
Example of his list
http://www.apartment-penang.com/2008/08/1-island-resort.html
http://www.apartment-penang.com/2008/02/island-resort.html
He started by highlighting the Penang state government's stealthy increase of density of units per acre. Perhaps not all the projects he listed qualify as receiving "final approval" under the LGE administration, but it is enough to cover our hills with concrete.
See http://eusoon.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-trend-of-change-for-penang.html
Example of his list
http://www.apartment-penang.com/2008/08/1-island-resort.html
http://www.apartment-penang.com/2008/02/island-resort.html
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
What's happening to the "sore thumb"?
槟收回2填海地 拟发展海滨公园
二零零九年六月二十九日 凌晨十二时三分
(槟城28日讯)槟州政府收回丹绒武雅两块面积合共约10依格的填海地，计划未来用为发展“海滨人民公园”。
面积9.5依格
两块面积分别7.5依格及2依格的填海地，与丹绒武雅俱乐部及槟城游泳公会海边相衔接；两块填地在约5年前，由丹绒俱乐部及槟州游泳公会向海索土形成，不过因为被指不符程序，而遭前朝政府勒令停工，如今面对州政府收回的命运。
彭文宝：确实用途未定案
槟州政府卫生、福利、爱心社会及环境委员会主席彭文宝行政议员受询时，证实此事。他表示，两块填海地理应归槟州政府所有，不过州政府还未决定该地段的未来发展用途。
“我们还在研究探讨未来的发展，不过其中一个可能性是将发展为人民公园；由于槟州缺乏人民公园，所以我希望能以人民利益为主，把该地发展为人民公园。”
郑雨周：将由地方政府管理
彭文宝指出，州政府已指示槟州土地局勘查上述两块地，并向政府提交报告。另外，丹绒武雅州议员郑雨周受询时指出，随着接获彭文宝通知两块填海地已收归槟州政府后，他本人也受托拟定报告书，以便将两块地转由地方政府管理。
他表示，丹绒俱乐部衔接的7.5依格填海地面的工程，已占据了长约300公尺的大片洁白沙滩。他说，该片填海地的沙石相信是从附近的山边发展计划运来，在工程进行时相信涉及数以千计的罗里运输。至于在游泳公会旁的填海地则是紧跟前者而进行。
郑雨周表示，如今两块土地已由州政府收回，之前丹绒武雅居民协会及民众提出希望填海地能发展为海滨公园，成为区内的人民休闲场地。
李翠华：利民行动
丹绒武雅居协副主席李翠华(Lee Laine)对于州政府将收回填海地的消息，表示兴奋。
她表示，若槟州政府能将两块填海地收回及发展为人民公园，那将令人感到自豪，也将是民联政府上台后的一项利民行动。她说，填海地在5年前引起关注，当时槟州游泳公会因为填海地造成风势被挡，影响参加年度风帆赛事的青少年选手出航训练，而向有关方面致函。
“当时只有一块填海在进行着，游泳公会则在紧跟其后进行填海建造出航的设施；我们也针对此事向前政府管理环境的行政议员邓章耀反映，他也向我们口头证实，两块填海计划都未获政府批准。”
通道狭窄 二填海地出入不便
丹绒俱乐部前的填海地，已形成数个小山丘，这些山丘由沙泥及石头砌成，高约40尺，极为稳固，并长了一些花草树木，比如海边松树(Casuarina)等。
郑雨周说，如果槟州政府能把该地发展为海滨公园，这些树可以现成培养。他也披露，上述两块填海地有出入不便的问题；现有两条公共通道进入填海地，即“The Cove”豪华公寓与国敦酒店之间的小巷，至于在丹绒俱乐部旁的一道政府地通道，已遭人以铁门关闭。
在The Cove公寓及国敦酒店间的小巷铺有柏油路，约有数尺宽，只能容纳一辆私家车的距离。不过，由于小巷入口处筑有人行道，导致车子不能驶入。此外，已铺上柏油路小巷的终点却长满草丛形成芭路，丛林茂盛，再加上基本设施不足，一般人望而却步，不敢进入。
他说，公众只能从国敦酒店进入洁白沙滩，该沙滩的沙幼细，未经严重污染，沙滩上也有臭豆(Buah Petai)树等。由于少人进入沙难，所以它已如同成为酒店房客及The Cove公寓的“私人沙滩”。
郑雨周在不久前，在丹绒武雅一带的海边种植350棵椰树，其中也在该海边种了约50棵椰树。这些椰树也已长高2尺，相信在未来将使该地区更绿化。
https://web.archive.org/web/20090629064746/https://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2009/06/29/3.html
Find out here: http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2009/06/29/3.html
Monday, May 11, 2009
Join a TBRA working group !
What are YOUR main concerns about our town?
Maybe trees ? Maybe traffic ? Worried about Hillslides ? or Highrise congestion?
Chances are you will find likeminded people in a TBRA working group and enjoy exploring what can be done.
After the 3rd AGM, the new TBRA Committee decided on opening up 4 different groups who could focus on particular problems. Tell us which one you will join:
a. Hillslopes. Help to get a ban on construction on dangerous slopes. (leader: George)
b. Zoning. Is Tanjong Bunga in “Corridor 1 or 2” It can make all the difference in terms of density and height of buildings. Will there be 4 MORE Sore fingers next to the Cove? Or can we stop them?
c.1. Pearl Hilltop Park It has been launched, now we must start thinking of how we want it to look. (leader Lee Laine)
c.2. At night the rats at our food stalls come out ! Catch them on video to show MPPP and help campaign to clean up Astaka. (leader: Lee Laine)
d. Trees. Very few huge trees remain, let’s save those and plant more. (leader: Dato’ Leong)
Tell us, which group appeals most to you and we shall put you in touch with the group’s leader. Write to tanjongbunga@yahoo.com or leave a note on this blogspot.
Maybe trees ? Maybe traffic ? Worried about Hillslides ? or Highrise congestion?
Chances are you will find likeminded people in a TBRA working group and enjoy exploring what can be done.
After the 3rd AGM, the new TBRA Committee decided on opening up 4 different groups who could focus on particular problems. Tell us which one you will join:
a. Hillslopes. Help to get a ban on construction on dangerous slopes. (leader: George)
b. Zoning. Is Tanjong Bunga in “Corridor 1 or 2” It can make all the difference in terms of density and height of buildings. Will there be 4 MORE Sore fingers next to the Cove? Or can we stop them?
c.1. Pearl Hilltop Park It has been launched, now we must start thinking of how we want it to look. (leader Lee Laine)
c.2. At night the rats at our food stalls come out ! Catch them on video to show MPPP and help campaign to clean up Astaka. (leader: Lee Laine)
d. Trees. Very few huge trees remain, let’s save those and plant more. (leader: Dato’ Leong)
Tell us, which group appeals most to you and we shall put you in touch with the group’s leader. Write to tanjongbunga@yahoo.com or leave a note on this blogspot.
Friday, April 24, 2009
TBRA moves into second gear
The new committee should now be moving into second gear. We reproduce here the outgoing chairperson's speech:
TBRA’S HISTORY
Three years ago, five people got together when they found out they shared similar concerns on what was happening in their neighbourhood. They discussed about the unsightly dumping of earth and rocks in the sea off Tanjong Bunga Bay which involved questionable approvals from the authorities, the cutting of hill slopes and clearing of forests near water catchment areas for high density housing developments, mushrooming of over 40 storey high buildings on the sea front, the poor public transport facilities and the lack of transparency in governance.
They decided that they needed a platform and a channel to voice their concerns to the government and to form a pressure group. TBRA was thus born with a vision ”to make Tanjong Bunga a green and restful town with well designed amenities and facilities.”
When we applied to the Registrar of Societies to register TBRA, we found out that residents’ associations in general were formed usually in condominium and apartments, taking upon the role of management committees. Such RAs are limited to looking after the welfare of the condominium and apartment residents and promoting neighbourliness, i.e. be good and responsible residents.
The circumstances in which TBRA was founded demanded a different sort of mission from other RAs. Furthermore the membership of TBRA was open to all property owners and residents in the town of Tanjong Bunga with the postcode 11200. This in a way is quite ‘ground-breaking’ for Penang although similar RAs can be found in Petaling jaya and Subang Jaya in Selangor.
Although one can say that the population in Tanjong Bunga is relatively middle-class, there are also pockets of lower-income groups. All have equal access to the public facilities and services which TBRA wants to be upgraded, irrespective of race, religion or socio-economic status. At the same time while we respect the need for a balance of public space, private space and shared space, we must share a common vision and mission. TBRA’s activities in the past three years have been guided by its stated mission.
Back to the group who led the founding of the Association, we only had a handful of members in the pro-tem committee. Happily there were enough interest and support from friends and neighbours at the start to get the Association officially registered and making its presence and agenda known to the government authorities and the Municipal Council. All were committed to our mission and volunteered their time and their homes for meetings.
A highly successful public forum held in July 2006 started a series of engagements with the State and Municipal authorities and continues till today.
TBRA THE PAST YEAR
The past year has been especially challenging for TBRA as it had to deal with a totally new government and in particular with a new Chief Minister who had no clue what TBRA’s concerns were even though many in Tanjong Bunga had voted and supported his party! This was evident in our meeting with him last May (2008).
However I am pleased to report that our newly elected State Legislative Assembly representative for Tanjong Bunga, YB Teh Yee Cheu, has been most responsive to our concerns and has supported our causes. YB Teh has attended a number of our committee meetings and was responsible for initiating a Sustainable Development Workshop held at Paradise Sandy Beach Hotel last April, soon after the March General Elections. To his credit, I would say that no other Assemblyman in this country had worked as swiftly as he has done in working with his constituents.
Among the main recommendations that TBRA has submitted to the State Government is the need for setting up a planning commission with representations from NGOs and to hold consultations with residents’ associations in the drafting of local plans. TBRA has noted that the State Planning Committee had not responded or accepted any of its recommendations in the memorandum on the State Structure Plan and the MPPP continues to allow environmental degradation, hill-cutting and high-rise buildings on beachfronts.
TBRA has also pointed out to the Chief Minister, State Exco members and the State Legal Advisor, the ambiguity in the State Structure Plan which omitted the gazetted boundary of Tanjong Bunga from the designated ‘Secondary Development Corridor’. This has major implications on the development density that is permitted within Tanjong Bunga as the interpretation by the State government means that Tanjong Bunga will have the same high densities as George Town with no control on hill-side development.
Incidentally, TBRA has not received any official reply to our lawyer’ s letter to the State Town and Country Planning Department to clarify this serious omission in the State Structure Plan. Of course we can always count on the standard reply that the problem was created by the previous government but I am afraid that we are now being faced with Conspiracy, Ambiguity and Tidakapathy!
TBRA supported the NGO’s nominations for the appointment of Municipal Councillors, in particular the nomination by Women’s Action Council, Ms. Lim Kah Cheng and Aliran’s Prof. Francis Loh, who were subsequently appointed as MPPP’s Councillors. TBRA has also submitted its proposals for Tanjong Bunga to be included in the Local Plan through YB Teh and through Municipal Councillor Ms. Lim.
In the past year TBRA has represented affected residents and resident committees in Diamond Villa, Chee Seng Gardens and Solok Tan Jit Seng in meeting with elected representatives and government departments like JKR, MPPP and holding press conferences to protest against hill-cutting. In particular I would like to thank our Vice-Chairperson and committee members involved for their efforts in The ‘Tea Party’ and ‘Coffee Party’ organised by these resident committees as well as the petition against hill-slope development campaign. As a strategy in raising public awareness in these issues, these demonstrations have been successful as they were widely reported in the press and the new media.
As Chairman, I have also represented TBRA in lending support to other causes like the PGCC forum and the Transport Planning Committee. Two particular projects that I think TBRA should be proud of is the Hill Top Park on Pearl Hill that was launched in April, and the setting up of a signboard to demarcate the official boundary of the Town of Tanjong Bunga. These two projects were initiated with the support of YB Teh, and I hope the future committee will see to its successful completion.
For the information of members, I think a brief background to these two projects are necessary. The summit of Pearl Hill has been designated a public open space when the subdivision of the entire Pearl Hill was approved by the State more than twenty years ago. However no action was taken by the MPPP to actually develop the open space as a park and in fact there are now squatters on this public land which was intended for the use of Tanjong Bunga residents. TBRA brought this up at a meeting with YB Teh and has submitted a concept paper for its development as a hill-top park with a proposed budget.
The signboard project which is proposed in front of the junction of Tanjong Bunga Road and Tanjong Park, next to Tanjong Bunga Hotel is aimed at establishing the official boundary of the Town of Tanjong Bunga, which the State Structure Plan has ambiguously and erroneously stated as from Mar Vista resort.
WORD OF THANKS
In conclusion, I wish to thank all the Committee members who have sacrificed their family and working time and for their commitment to the mission that we have set for TBRA and most of all for putting community interests above self. I should also mention that considering the annual membership fees that we collect are really minimal, TBRA has been prudent enough not to spend much, if not any, money from its funds. This is possible only through the generosity of members who had contributed in cash and kind for specific events.
It is with the energy and support of members and the Committee, that TBRA has been able to achieve what I consider as remarkable and ground-breaking results. As chairperson, I humbly accept responsibility for all shortcomings, and in particular for my occasional long absences from Penang due to work. However I have been able to touch base through emails. I foresee more challenges ahead for TBRA as development pressure takes its toll on the quality of life in Tanjong Bunga. Only if you speak up will you be heard. Only if you are prepared to act will you see results.
I wish you all the best. Thank you.
TBRA’S HISTORY
Three years ago, five people got together when they found out they shared similar concerns on what was happening in their neighbourhood. They discussed about the unsightly dumping of earth and rocks in the sea off Tanjong Bunga Bay which involved questionable approvals from the authorities, the cutting of hill slopes and clearing of forests near water catchment areas for high density housing developments, mushrooming of over 40 storey high buildings on the sea front, the poor public transport facilities and the lack of transparency in governance.
They decided that they needed a platform and a channel to voice their concerns to the government and to form a pressure group. TBRA was thus born with a vision ”to make Tanjong Bunga a green and restful town with well designed amenities and facilities.”
When we applied to the Registrar of Societies to register TBRA, we found out that residents’ associations in general were formed usually in condominium and apartments, taking upon the role of management committees. Such RAs are limited to looking after the welfare of the condominium and apartment residents and promoting neighbourliness, i.e. be good and responsible residents.
The circumstances in which TBRA was founded demanded a different sort of mission from other RAs. Furthermore the membership of TBRA was open to all property owners and residents in the town of Tanjong Bunga with the postcode 11200. This in a way is quite ‘ground-breaking’ for Penang although similar RAs can be found in Petaling jaya and Subang Jaya in Selangor.
Although one can say that the population in Tanjong Bunga is relatively middle-class, there are also pockets of lower-income groups. All have equal access to the public facilities and services which TBRA wants to be upgraded, irrespective of race, religion or socio-economic status. At the same time while we respect the need for a balance of public space, private space and shared space, we must share a common vision and mission. TBRA’s activities in the past three years have been guided by its stated mission.
Back to the group who led the founding of the Association, we only had a handful of members in the pro-tem committee. Happily there were enough interest and support from friends and neighbours at the start to get the Association officially registered and making its presence and agenda known to the government authorities and the Municipal Council. All were committed to our mission and volunteered their time and their homes for meetings.
A highly successful public forum held in July 2006 started a series of engagements with the State and Municipal authorities and continues till today.
TBRA THE PAST YEAR
The past year has been especially challenging for TBRA as it had to deal with a totally new government and in particular with a new Chief Minister who had no clue what TBRA’s concerns were even though many in Tanjong Bunga had voted and supported his party! This was evident in our meeting with him last May (2008).
However I am pleased to report that our newly elected State Legislative Assembly representative for Tanjong Bunga, YB Teh Yee Cheu, has been most responsive to our concerns and has supported our causes. YB Teh has attended a number of our committee meetings and was responsible for initiating a Sustainable Development Workshop held at Paradise Sandy Beach Hotel last April, soon after the March General Elections. To his credit, I would say that no other Assemblyman in this country had worked as swiftly as he has done in working with his constituents.
Among the main recommendations that TBRA has submitted to the State Government is the need for setting up a planning commission with representations from NGOs and to hold consultations with residents’ associations in the drafting of local plans. TBRA has noted that the State Planning Committee had not responded or accepted any of its recommendations in the memorandum on the State Structure Plan and the MPPP continues to allow environmental degradation, hill-cutting and high-rise buildings on beachfronts.
TBRA has also pointed out to the Chief Minister, State Exco members and the State Legal Advisor, the ambiguity in the State Structure Plan which omitted the gazetted boundary of Tanjong Bunga from the designated ‘Secondary Development Corridor’. This has major implications on the development density that is permitted within Tanjong Bunga as the interpretation by the State government means that Tanjong Bunga will have the same high densities as George Town with no control on hill-side development.
Incidentally, TBRA has not received any official reply to our lawyer’ s letter to the State Town and Country Planning Department to clarify this serious omission in the State Structure Plan. Of course we can always count on the standard reply that the problem was created by the previous government but I am afraid that we are now being faced with Conspiracy, Ambiguity and Tidakapathy!
TBRA supported the NGO’s nominations for the appointment of Municipal Councillors, in particular the nomination by Women’s Action Council, Ms. Lim Kah Cheng and Aliran’s Prof. Francis Loh, who were subsequently appointed as MPPP’s Councillors. TBRA has also submitted its proposals for Tanjong Bunga to be included in the Local Plan through YB Teh and through Municipal Councillor Ms. Lim.
In the past year TBRA has represented affected residents and resident committees in Diamond Villa, Chee Seng Gardens and Solok Tan Jit Seng in meeting with elected representatives and government departments like JKR, MPPP and holding press conferences to protest against hill-cutting. In particular I would like to thank our Vice-Chairperson and committee members involved for their efforts in The ‘Tea Party’ and ‘Coffee Party’ organised by these resident committees as well as the petition against hill-slope development campaign. As a strategy in raising public awareness in these issues, these demonstrations have been successful as they were widely reported in the press and the new media.
As Chairman, I have also represented TBRA in lending support to other causes like the PGCC forum and the Transport Planning Committee. Two particular projects that I think TBRA should be proud of is the Hill Top Park on Pearl Hill that was launched in April, and the setting up of a signboard to demarcate the official boundary of the Town of Tanjong Bunga. These two projects were initiated with the support of YB Teh, and I hope the future committee will see to its successful completion.
For the information of members, I think a brief background to these two projects are necessary. The summit of Pearl Hill has been designated a public open space when the subdivision of the entire Pearl Hill was approved by the State more than twenty years ago. However no action was taken by the MPPP to actually develop the open space as a park and in fact there are now squatters on this public land which was intended for the use of Tanjong Bunga residents. TBRA brought this up at a meeting with YB Teh and has submitted a concept paper for its development as a hill-top park with a proposed budget.
The signboard project which is proposed in front of the junction of Tanjong Bunga Road and Tanjong Park, next to Tanjong Bunga Hotel is aimed at establishing the official boundary of the Town of Tanjong Bunga, which the State Structure Plan has ambiguously and erroneously stated as from Mar Vista resort.
WORD OF THANKS
In conclusion, I wish to thank all the Committee members who have sacrificed their family and working time and for their commitment to the mission that we have set for TBRA and most of all for putting community interests above self. I should also mention that considering the annual membership fees that we collect are really minimal, TBRA has been prudent enough not to spend much, if not any, money from its funds. This is possible only through the generosity of members who had contributed in cash and kind for specific events.
It is with the energy and support of members and the Committee, that TBRA has been able to achieve what I consider as remarkable and ground-breaking results. As chairperson, I humbly accept responsibility for all shortcomings, and in particular for my occasional long absences from Penang due to work. However I have been able to touch base through emails. I foresee more challenges ahead for TBRA as development pressure takes its toll on the quality of life in Tanjong Bunga. Only if you speak up will you be heard. Only if you are prepared to act will you see results.
I wish you all the best. Thank you.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Authorities not monitoring rock-blasting
A resident in Tanjong Bunga near the Surin condominium project took these photos of continued hill-cutting and rockblasting. It is evident that on-going works have not been monitored by MPPP and other relevant departments to ensure that they comply with their conditions. From the photos you can see that earthcutting right up to the boundary of the neighbouring property. Wouldn't you be worried if you are a resident here?
According to the report, YB Phee Boon Poh was at the site to see for himself and agreed that there were contraventions. Will there be a stop-work order from MPPP?
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Annual General Meeting 2009
Tanjong Bunga Residents’ Association Annual General Meeting 2009
INVITATION
The Tanjong Bunga Residents’ Association (TBRA) is pleased to urge you to attend the AGM on Saturday, 18 April 2009 at 3 pm in the Meeting Room upstairs (above the Tanjong Bunga market).
Agenda
Address by Chairperson TBRA
Approve Minutes of AGM 2008*
Adopt Annual Report by Secretary TBRA*
Adopt Audited Statement of Accounts, Treasurer TBRA*
Consider any resolution (will be submitted in writing by 11 April 2009)
Discuss matters of general interest
Any other business
Closing address
* copies forthcoming soon
Please note that this year there are elections; we need to elect a new chair, vice-chair and treasurer. PLEASE start thinking of nominations.
There will also be proposed changes to the statutes so as to allow for life membership – keep a watch for the resolution to approve at the AGM.
As you know, every AGM needs to have a quorum of at least 20 members. Please make sure we reach that quorum by turning up. Come to hear about the latest activities. It will not take that much of your time. Support your local Association !
Saturday, 18th 3 pm - See you there !
INVITATION
The Tanjong Bunga Residents’ Association (TBRA) is pleased to urge you to attend the AGM on Saturday, 18 April 2009 at 3 pm in the Meeting Room upstairs (above the Tanjong Bunga market).
Agenda
Address by Chairperson TBRA
Approve Minutes of AGM 2008*
Adopt Annual Report by Secretary TBRA*
Adopt Audited Statement of Accounts, Treasurer TBRA*
Consider any resolution (will be submitted in writing by 11 April 2009)
Discuss matters of general interest
Any other business
Closing address
* copies forthcoming soon
Please note that this year there are elections; we need to elect a new chair, vice-chair and treasurer. PLEASE start thinking of nominations.
There will also be proposed changes to the statutes so as to allow for life membership – keep a watch for the resolution to approve at the AGM.
As you know, every AGM needs to have a quorum of at least 20 members. Please make sure we reach that quorum by turning up. Come to hear about the latest activities. It will not take that much of your time. Support your local Association !
Saturday, 18th 3 pm - See you there !
Friday, March 20, 2009
Another Party This Saturday
A call from TBRA (and active residents from Chee Seng Gardens, Straits Regency, Coastal Towers, Leader Garden, Solok Tan Jit Seng, Pearl Hill Town Houses & Diamond Villa) :
Come and join us ! Get some fresh air and new ideas.
COFFEE PARTY
on 21 March 2009 (this Saturday)
from 4.00 to 5.00 pm - just an hour of your time !
Let’s SUPPORT the call to STOP all dangerous Hill Slope Development in Penang
Dear Residents of Tanjong Bunga,
· Are you living in fear of your home collapsing in the future due to a nearby dangerously steep hill slope development project?
· Are you fearful of the hill collapsing or a land slide?
· Are you fearful of nearby rock blasting that threatens the lives your family?
· Are you sick and tired of the constant lorries carting rocks and earth and covering roads with mud and dust?
· Do you want a more beautiful and green Penang?
If any of the answers above are yes, then come and support your neighbours speak up against irresponsible steep and dangerous hill slope development on:
1. Date – 21st March 2009 (Saturday)
2. Time – 4.00 to 5.00 pm
3. Venue – Solok Tan Jit Seng – behind Tanjong Bunga Secondary School- below the Mt Erskine reservoir (Lemba Permai side)
Our intention is to have a VERY peaceful yet meaningful gathering to highlight all the above. So, come to the Party, with a metal coffee pot or a pan so that we can share our coffee with others and do bring a wooden spoon too. We'll make some noise around the coffee.
Coffee and other refreshments will be provided.
Come and join us ! Get some fresh air and new ideas.
COFFEE PARTY
on 21 March 2009 (this Saturday)
from 4.00 to 5.00 pm - just an hour of your time !
Let’s SUPPORT the call to STOP all dangerous Hill Slope Development in Penang
Dear Residents of Tanjong Bunga,
· Are you living in fear of your home collapsing in the future due to a nearby dangerously steep hill slope development project?
· Are you fearful of the hill collapsing or a land slide?
· Are you fearful of nearby rock blasting that threatens the lives your family?
· Are you sick and tired of the constant lorries carting rocks and earth and covering roads with mud and dust?
· Do you want a more beautiful and green Penang?
If any of the answers above are yes, then come and support your neighbours speak up against irresponsible steep and dangerous hill slope development on:
1. Date – 21st March 2009 (Saturday)
2. Time – 4.00 to 5.00 pm
3. Venue – Solok Tan Jit Seng – behind Tanjong Bunga Secondary School- below the Mt Erskine reservoir (Lemba Permai side)
Our intention is to have a VERY peaceful yet meaningful gathering to highlight all the above. So, come to the Party, with a metal coffee pot or a pan so that we can share our coffee with others and do bring a wooden spoon too. We'll make some noise around the coffee.
Coffee and other refreshments will be provided.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Cherry Blossom time in Penang
CHANGE OR SAME?
Tanjong Bunga residents are encouraged to attend this forum organised by SUARAM:
Cat's Ruling, Change or The Same!? (English)
Date: 14/3/09 (Saturday)
Time: 8pm
Venue: Penang Chinese Town Hall
Speakers: Lim Kah Cheng (MPPP)
Choo Chon Kai (SUARAM)
Chow Kon Yeow (Exco of Penang State Government)
Teh Leong Meng (Gerakan)
contact person: Lau Shu Shi 012-8756179, suarampg@gmail. com
“一年貓政府，民聯功與過” (Chinese)
日期：15/3/09
時間：晚間八點
地點：檳華堂
主講人：
非政府組織成員劉素希
槟城中文报记者摄影记者协会主席陈云清
檳州行政議員曹觀友，
民政黨涂仲儀醫生
聯絡人：劉素希 012-8756179， suarampg@gmail. com
Cat's Ruling, Change or The Same!? (English)
Date: 14/3/09 (Saturday)
Time: 8pm
Venue: Penang Chinese Town Hall
Speakers: Lim Kah Cheng (MPPP)
Choo Chon Kai (SUARAM)
Chow Kon Yeow (Exco of Penang State Government)
Teh Leong Meng (Gerakan)
contact person: Lau Shu Shi 012-8756179, suarampg@gmail. com
“一年貓政府，民聯功與過” (Chinese)
日期：15/3/09
時間：晚間八點
地點：檳華堂
主講人：
非政府組織成員劉素希
槟城中文报记者摄影记者协会主席陈云清
檳州行政議員曹觀友，
民政黨涂仲儀醫生
聯絡人：劉素希 012-8756179， suarampg@gmail. com
Sunday, March 08, 2009
THE LAUNCH OF PEARL HILL RECREATIONAL PARK
When: 8 March 2009, 8 am
Launch by: YB Teh Yee Cheu, ADUN Tg Bungah and TBRA
Venue: entrance to “Tua Pek Kong” Chinese Temple (top of the hill)
Sponsored by:
Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association • Malaysian Nature Society • MPPP • Lions Club
Please come and join us to celebrate the launch of a new park in Tanjong Bunga this coming Sunday. The very top of Pearl Hill is State land and will gradually be converted into a recreational park, adding beautiful views and exercise grounds for the many joggers, walkers and climbers in the Tanjong Bunga area.
On this historic day, TBRA is happy to announce the launch of this park by our Assemblyman, YB Teh Yee Cheu, with co-sponsorship by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), the Lions Club and MPPP. MNS will be able to advise on environmental aspects, the Lions Club will encourage recreational activities and MPPP will oversee the topographical management. YB Liew Chin Tong, member of Parliament, has also promised to be present.
The many high density and high rise developments which have been built in Tanjong Bunga have led to a serious lack of public recreational space or consideration for the natural settings. This is very evident when comparing the new condos with other earlier developments in Hillside and surrounding areas. The earlier housing projects had many small neighborhood parks that serve as play ground for children and areas for relaxation for the adults.
The new park, located at the summit of Pearl Hill, is currently zoned as public open space. It is accessible by road via Puncak Bukit Mutiara. A detailed proposal is being considered by the State Government.
TBRA (Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association)
For more info contact: Lee Laine at 012-5811123
Launch by: YB Teh Yee Cheu, ADUN Tg Bungah and TBRA
Venue: entrance to “Tua Pek Kong” Chinese Temple (top of the hill)
Sponsored by:
Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association • Malaysian Nature Society • MPPP • Lions Club
Please come and join us to celebrate the launch of a new park in Tanjong Bunga this coming Sunday. The very top of Pearl Hill is State land and will gradually be converted into a recreational park, adding beautiful views and exercise grounds for the many joggers, walkers and climbers in the Tanjong Bunga area.
On this historic day, TBRA is happy to announce the launch of this park by our Assemblyman, YB Teh Yee Cheu, with co-sponsorship by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), the Lions Club and MPPP. MNS will be able to advise on environmental aspects, the Lions Club will encourage recreational activities and MPPP will oversee the topographical management. YB Liew Chin Tong, member of Parliament, has also promised to be present.
The many high density and high rise developments which have been built in Tanjong Bunga have led to a serious lack of public recreational space or consideration for the natural settings. This is very evident when comparing the new condos with other earlier developments in Hillside and surrounding areas. The earlier housing projects had many small neighborhood parks that serve as play ground for children and areas for relaxation for the adults.
The new park, located at the summit of Pearl Hill, is currently zoned as public open space. It is accessible by road via Puncak Bukit Mutiara. A detailed proposal is being considered by the State Government.
TBRA (Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association)
For more info contact: Lee Laine at 012-5811123
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Why Tanjong Bunga Residents are protesting
This afternoon, in Tanjung Bunga, residents used this form of protest to loud effect during a Valentine’s Day ‘tea party’ to protest at property development projects on steep hill-slopes. Some one hundred and eighty residents turned up in Chee Seng Garden in front of the Bolton Surin project, calling on the Chief Minister and the state government to stop the project for good.They are also calling for an end to all Class 3 and 4 hill-slope projects, saying they do not want to see a repeat of the Highland Tower and Bukit Antarabangsa tragedies. Led by long-time Chee Seng Garden resident Andrew Aeria, the crowd observed a minute’s silence for the victims of the tragedies.
Andrew, using a loud hailer, said that residents were wondering whose interest the state government has at heart: the developers’ or the people’s. “We voted for change because we wanted the state government to make a difference,” he said. “If we don’t see any change, we know what we have to do.”
Not only was there a greater risk of landslides, water catchment areas too are affected.
write up by Anilnetto.com at : http://anilnetto.com/accountability/tg-bunga-residents-bang-pots-and-pans-in-protest/#more-8204
Monday, February 16, 2009
NO CHANGE BUT WE ARE GOING BACKWARDS!
It seems like residents who live near hill-slopes will face an uphill battle (pardon the pun) to get the government to stop developments on high-risk slopes. Whilst residents in Tanjong Bungah were staging a protest, the Minister of Works while opening a seminar on hill-slope developments was saying that the country is so short of land that we have no choice but to build on hill-slopes. That is of course the developer's mantra and does not bear scrutiny if you consider the fact that foreshore land is being reclaimed in Penang Island like there is no tomorrow. In Penang and in other states there are many parts that are as yet either undeveloped or not properly developed. The Minister is either being misreported or missed the point that protests are aimed at development of high-risk slopes on Class III and Class IV slopes and no one is objecting to development per se. The issues of safety of residents and property are not being addressed. Kudos to the Bukit Antarabangsa resident who demanded for the report on the latest landslide... and did not resort to shoe-throwing.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
The period of CHANGE - Make a date on February 14
Dear TBRA members,
We hope you all enjoyed the Chinese New Year festivities with your family, friends and neighbours. This is indeed a period of change, and one of the changes is "CLIMATE CHANGE".
How does climate change affect us? In many ways.... one of the most obvious for us is that more landslides and flooding will occur due to heavier and longer periods of rainfall. While there is little we can do now to reverse this climate change due to more carbon emissions, we should at least avoid disturbing hill-slopes and hill-cutting.
Even before the horrific landslide in Taman Antarabangsa, the residents of Chee Seng Gardens in Tanjong Bunga confronted the developers of a hillside construction project about an "accident waiting to happen". A stop-work order was slapped on the construction site by MPPP demanding that more retention ponds be built to avoid the floods that had frightened residents.
After 2 weeks, such stop-work orders are lifted once the developers have complied. But the steep hillside (over 35 degrees) still has plenty of dangers: huge boulders need to be blasted, erosion is on-going and the walls between the neighbouring condos are far too thin to provide any real protection against landslides. More letters and meetings with local authorities took place.
But the blasting and digging goes on. After several joint meetings of the condo residents associations, and the Chee Seng residents, supported by TBRA, the groups have now decided to launch a massive but peaceful no-confidence protest.
We call it a Tea Party and it will take place on:
14 Febr 2009 (YES, on Valentine’s Day)
from 4 to 5 pm
at the top of Jalan Chan Siew Teong
in Chee Seng Gardens *
We need you to be there in solidarity.
Only if hundreds of residents turn up, will the authorities pay attention.
This is no longer a local issue, it is an opportunity to tell the new Penang government that the residents are fed up with dangerous hill slope development, that Tanjong Bunga has had enough high rises, enough deforestation, enough erosion. We don't want any new construction on Class III (25-35 degrees) and Class IV (above 35 degrees) slopes.
A meeting was held with the Chief Minister on 21 December and he seemed to agree with the demands of the protesters but was hiding behind the decisions of the Old government and the fear to be sued. Unless we show him that we mean business, matters can comfortably slip back into the State and the MPPP closing their eyes and allowing developers to carry on.
We want commitments in writing, we want a clear ban on Class III & IV hill slopes, we want existing developments to stop unless they are proven safe (by independent engineers) and there is real assurance that safety of exposed slopes is monitored by a competent hill slope committee also after the projects are finished.
So come join us at this Tea Party with banners and posters, with tea kettles (or old pots and pans) and bring wooden spoons…. (Why? You’ll see !)
Sign the petition ! and let the few remaining unspoilt hills be your Valentines for an hour on that day.
* Enter Chee Seng from Tanjong Bunga village and drive uphill or take the road leading up opposite the floating Mosque. All the way up. Come in jogging gear. There is plenty of parking space.
We hope you all enjoyed the Chinese New Year festivities with your family, friends and neighbours. This is indeed a period of change, and one of the changes is "CLIMATE CHANGE".
How does climate change affect us? In many ways.... one of the most obvious for us is that more landslides and flooding will occur due to heavier and longer periods of rainfall. While there is little we can do now to reverse this climate change due to more carbon emissions, we should at least avoid disturbing hill-slopes and hill-cutting.
Even before the horrific landslide in Taman Antarabangsa, the residents of Chee Seng Gardens in Tanjong Bunga confronted the developers of a hillside construction project about an "accident waiting to happen". A stop-work order was slapped on the construction site by MPPP demanding that more retention ponds be built to avoid the floods that had frightened residents.
After 2 weeks, such stop-work orders are lifted once the developers have complied. But the steep hillside (over 35 degrees) still has plenty of dangers: huge boulders need to be blasted, erosion is on-going and the walls between the neighbouring condos are far too thin to provide any real protection against landslides. More letters and meetings with local authorities took place.
But the blasting and digging goes on. After several joint meetings of the condo residents associations, and the Chee Seng residents, supported by TBRA, the groups have now decided to launch a massive but peaceful no-confidence protest.
We call it a Tea Party and it will take place on:
14 Febr 2009 (YES, on Valentine’s Day)
from 4 to 5 pm
at the top of Jalan Chan Siew Teong
in Chee Seng Gardens *
We need you to be there in solidarity.
Only if hundreds of residents turn up, will the authorities pay attention.
This is no longer a local issue, it is an opportunity to tell the new Penang government that the residents are fed up with dangerous hill slope development, that Tanjong Bunga has had enough high rises, enough deforestation, enough erosion. We don't want any new construction on Class III (25-35 degrees) and Class IV (above 35 degrees) slopes.
A meeting was held with the Chief Minister on 21 December and he seemed to agree with the demands of the protesters but was hiding behind the decisions of the Old government and the fear to be sued. Unless we show him that we mean business, matters can comfortably slip back into the State and the MPPP closing their eyes and allowing developers to carry on.
We want commitments in writing, we want a clear ban on Class III & IV hill slopes, we want existing developments to stop unless they are proven safe (by independent engineers) and there is real assurance that safety of exposed slopes is monitored by a competent hill slope committee also after the projects are finished.
So come join us at this Tea Party with banners and posters, with tea kettles (or old pots and pans) and bring wooden spoons…. (Why? You’ll see !)
Sign the petition ! and let the few remaining unspoilt hills be your Valentines for an hour on that day.
* Enter Chee Seng from Tanjong Bunga village and drive uphill or take the road leading up opposite the floating Mosque. All the way up. Come in jogging gear. There is plenty of parking space.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Tale of Two Islands
Penang Island's Waterfront
Hong Kong Island's Central Business District: Hong Kong's public expenditure is 10 times that of Penang.
Pedestrian linkages in Hong Kong enable people to move about safely.
This is Hong Kong Island. AS expected, too much is at stake for the Penang State Government to ban hill-slope projects in the State. (see previous post). The case of Hong Kong should be taken within its proper context. Much public funds would be needed for the State and Municipal authorities to monitor and maintain built slopes. I believe Hong Kong's per capita GDP is at least three times that of Penang's, and its annual budget expenditure is 10 times that of Penang and MPPP's combined. Its population is about 7 times the size of Penang's. It's wishful thinking to expect the Federal Government to pay, as the PM said, for some people to enjoy the good view. We just do not have the resources, period.
Hong Kong's public services is super-efficient. It is business-friendly in the true sense of the word. For example, the huge investment in public infrastructure such as its public transportation system and its famous pedestrian linkages between and within buildings that are all geared towards making it easy for people to move around and providing an efficient business environment.
These are the priorities that Penang should consider and not be distracted by projects that are bound to create environmental problems, degrade the landscape and spoil the natural beauty of the island.
The Penang State Structure Plan has reported that there is sufficient developable land in the State and the present housing supply including those coming onstream is sufficient to last until the year 2020 and beyond. So there is really no justification for the government to allow our hills to be cut and degrade the natural environment.
If it is really that important for the economy and the people of Penang, then the State Government should impose a levy on developers and purchasers of hill-slope developments to pay for the monitoring and maintenance of built slopes.
The Street, Drainage and Building Act and the Local Government Act should be amended to remove the 'protection' clause for those in authority. Let Councillors be answerable and subject to legal action.
No blanket ban on hillside projects in Penang
This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my/)URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/14/nation/2805042&sec=nation
__________________________________________________________________________
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Government will not introduce a blanket state-wide ban on hillside projects, state Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said.
He said good practices and guidelines was the key to avoiding disasters.
“We are concerned about landslides but we do not intend to take a drastic stand and ban hillside development altogether.
“With good guidelines and engineering practices, development can go on,” Chow said before launching a courtesy campaign at a shopping centre here yesterday.
Citing Hong Kong as an example, Chow said hillside development could be carried out smoothly with the right guidelines.
However, he said, the state government would not hesitate to slap a stop work order on any project which flouted the guidelines.
“We have issued many stop work orders since we took office (in March). The important thing is to ensure that development on hillsides are done safely and under close supervision,” Chow said.
He said the state executive council had, on Friday, decided to form two supporting committees to the recently formulated independent panel of engineering advisers that was given the task of evaluating hillslope projects in the state.
“A supervisory committee will help in overseeing hillside development projects with the state Town and Country Planning Committee acting as the secretariat. The enforcement committee, on the other hand, will work under the Penang Municipal Council to ensure all rules are complied with,” Chow said.
Hong Kong's public services is super-efficient. It is business-friendly in the true sense of the word. For example, the huge investment in public infrastructure such as its public transportation system and its famous pedestrian linkages between and within buildings that are all geared towards making it easy for people to move around and providing an efficient business environment.
These are the priorities that Penang should consider and not be distracted by projects that are bound to create environmental problems, degrade the landscape and spoil the natural beauty of the island.
The Penang State Structure Plan has reported that there is sufficient developable land in the State and the present housing supply including those coming onstream is sufficient to last until the year 2020 and beyond. So there is really no justification for the government to allow our hills to be cut and degrade the natural environment.
If it is really that important for the economy and the people of Penang, then the State Government should impose a levy on developers and purchasers of hill-slope developments to pay for the monitoring and maintenance of built slopes.
The Street, Drainage and Building Act and the Local Government Act should be amended to remove the 'protection' clause for those in authority. Let Councillors be answerable and subject to legal action.
No blanket ban on hillside projects in Penang
This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my/)URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/14/nation/2805042&sec=nation
__________________________________________________________________________
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Government will not introduce a blanket state-wide ban on hillside projects, state Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said.
He said good practices and guidelines was the key to avoiding disasters.
“We are concerned about landslides but we do not intend to take a drastic stand and ban hillside development altogether.
“With good guidelines and engineering practices, development can go on,” Chow said before launching a courtesy campaign at a shopping centre here yesterday.
Citing Hong Kong as an example, Chow said hillside development could be carried out smoothly with the right guidelines.
However, he said, the state government would not hesitate to slap a stop work order on any project which flouted the guidelines.
“We have issued many stop work orders since we took office (in March). The important thing is to ensure that development on hillsides are done safely and under close supervision,” Chow said.
He said the state executive council had, on Friday, decided to form two supporting committees to the recently formulated independent panel of engineering advisers that was given the task of evaluating hillslope projects in the state.
“A supervisory committee will help in overseeing hillside development projects with the state Town and Country Planning Committee acting as the secretariat. The enforcement committee, on the other hand, will work under the Penang Municipal Council to ensure all rules are complied with,” Chow said.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Read between the lines: Hillslope developments to continue
Hill cutting in Batu Ferringi (photo by CKS)
Former Minister's lament in 2006, The Star 
Hill Cutting in Tanjong Bunga, Lembah Permai (photo by: CKS)
Compared to the Selangor Government's bold policy on hillslope developments, the Penang State Government still has a long way to go. Some time ago the previous government sent a State delegation to Hong Kong (it seems our present CM has taken the same route). Of course what they found out was the simple fact that our State government cannot do what the Hong Kong government is doing in slope maintenance and management.. we just simply do not have the resources. One would then conclude that as the government is unable to maintain and monitor slope conditions, then the obvious solution is not to allow hillslope development until we reach the level of economic development and the resources of the Hong Kong government.
One has to read between the lines of the following report to conclude that hillslopes development in Penang will continue even afer landslides in Paya Terubong and Batu Ferringi have occurred.
Penang forms panel to check hillside developments
By: by Bernard Cheah (Dec 09, 2008)
GEORGE TOWN (Dec 9, 2008): The Penang government has formed an independent panel of engineering advisers to monitor and evaluate the conditions of all hillslopes that are being developed.Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said yesterday the panel, headed by Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) chairman Prof Dr Eric Goh, will review weekly geotechnical reports submitted by the developers for their projects.He said the move is necessary to ensure stringent steps are taken to avoid any landslides or disasters.“We would like to give confidence to residents living on the hills as well as those residing along the foothills.”There are eight development projects on hillslopes on the island and one in Seberang Perai.Among the developers on the island is Ivory Continental Sdn Bhd, whose project on the Batu Ferringhi hillslopes includes three condominium blocks of 28 storeys each, 15 units of four-storey country houses, six units of three-storey semi-detached houses and a three-storey clubhouse.The others include GLM Property Development Sdn Bhd (two blocks of 28-storey condominiums with carparks in Bandar Tanjung Bungah), DMV Sdn Bhd (37 units of three-storey bungalows on Jalan Batu Ferringhi), OJY Sdn Bhd (62 units of three-storey link houses on Jalan Batu Ferringhi), Ivory Meadows Sdn Bhd (a seven-storey block of luxury condominiums on Jalan Batu Ferringhi), Plenitude Heights Sdn Bhd (a 32-storey condominium block, 44 units of three-storey semi-detached homes and a seven-storey clubhouse in Bandar Batu Ferringhi) and Taman Ratu Development Sdn Bhd (45 units of three-storey terrace houses in Tanjung Bungah).“The state government has issued nine stop-work orders since coming to power in March,” Lim said.He said the Penang Island Municipal Council has been instructed to ensure seven key conditions are adhered to by the developers in their weekly reports.Goh said the panel would also make regular site inspections. --- end ---
--- Article Information ---
This article was emailed from Sun2Surf.
Article's URL: http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=28318
Selangor Government Leads in capping Hillslope Development
Bitter vindication
by Elizabeth Wong
ONE of the earliest policy decisions by the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government was to throw out any housing and building applications for Class 3 and Class 4 hillslopes to preserve environmentally sensitive areas and prevent landslides. This was decided at an executive council meeting on April 2.
Selangor became the first state in the federation to have complied with the Federal Town and Country Planning Department’s Total Planning Guidelines 1997 (2nd edition, 2001) which states that no housing development should be allowed on slopes with 25° and above gradients.
Developers thought it was a late April Fool’s joke. Since our ban, they have used all means – the media, blogs, lobbying by state reps and MPs etc to change our minds. We were vilified as “anti-business” and “anti-development”. I have even had some of our Pakatan MPs asking us to make exceptions for Class 3 slopes.
I was told they particularly disliked me and called me “lan-si” (arrogant) just because during a public meeting of developers, NGOs, residents and the exco, one of the key developers questioned how the state government could stop hillslope development, and I answered, “Because we can…” And none were too happy when I had to repeatedly wave the Total Planning Guidelines book at them.
And every couple of months, we have had to repeat our policy decision. Even as recent as last month, developers were insisting that they had the right to develop hill slopes and some had told a couple of exco members that they were planning to sue us. One of them said we would have to compensate them RM330 million (25% of our state budget) for possible loss of profits. Imagine the pressure of a lobby group whose combined income and assets dwarfs the state government!
Saturday’s tragedy proves the correctness of the decision of the state government. But vindication which comes after the loss of four lives and more homes is unspeakably bitter. There are some 5,000 residents living in the vicinity of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide who face uncertainty and may have to vacate their homes.
We ask that developers stop pursuing and pressuring us to review our policy, and instead thoroughly go through every single technicality of their existing hillslope projects.
While Ikram and the Public Works Department are responsible for pinpointing the cause of the tragedy, the state government will immediately review all approved hillslope projects by the previous administration, whether standing or partially built.
Those where there is no construction yet but approved before March 8 should not be allowed to proceed, especially along the same range of Bukit Antarabangsa and Hulu Kelang – which should include Taman Hijau and Bukit Melawati.
We had come too late. Many of the hillslope projects have been standing for a number of years, some were half completed when we came into power. Without proper maintenance of slopes and drainage on these private lands, tragedy will strike after many years, always after the period of indemnity is over. Those areas shown to be prone to landslides such as in Hulu Kelang, where the Public Works Department had flashed its red card in 2005, more stringent conditions will be imposed on existing projects.
All developers and private land owners have to protect and reinforce their own hillslopes if they want to continue to prosper, own property and do business in Selangor. We recently received complaints from Ampang, Kajang, Cheras and Pandan where private landowners and developers have neglected to protect hillslopes and there are already signs of wear and tear. Some have used plastic sheets and some said they were bankrupt and don’t have the funds to repair their slopes. Whatever. If they do not do the necessary, we will blacklist them.
We ask that “people” be put ahead of “profits”.
We are heartened that finally, after eight months of battling the housing industry, the federal government has come to our side to give Selangor, both the moral and policy support it needs, with both the prime minister and deputy prime minister calling for all hillslope development permits to be cancelled.
We can only hope the federal government doesn’t forget Dec 6, 2008 - like what had happened to Highland Towers (1993); Taman Hillview (2002) and Kg Pasir (2006) - which was less than a kilometre from Saturday’s landslide. Lest the lives lost would be in vain.
The writer is assemblywoman for Bukit Lanjan and state executive councillor in charge of the environment. Comment: letters@thesundaily.com
(Thanks to Andrew Aeria for the headsup)
by Elizabeth Wong
ONE of the earliest policy decisions by the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government was to throw out any housing and building applications for Class 3 and Class 4 hillslopes to preserve environmentally sensitive areas and prevent landslides. This was decided at an executive council meeting on April 2.
Selangor became the first state in the federation to have complied with the Federal Town and Country Planning Department’s Total Planning Guidelines 1997 (2nd edition, 2001) which states that no housing development should be allowed on slopes with 25° and above gradients.
Developers thought it was a late April Fool’s joke. Since our ban, they have used all means – the media, blogs, lobbying by state reps and MPs etc to change our minds. We were vilified as “anti-business” and “anti-development”. I have even had some of our Pakatan MPs asking us to make exceptions for Class 3 slopes.
I was told they particularly disliked me and called me “lan-si” (arrogant) just because during a public meeting of developers, NGOs, residents and the exco, one of the key developers questioned how the state government could stop hillslope development, and I answered, “Because we can…” And none were too happy when I had to repeatedly wave the Total Planning Guidelines book at them.
And every couple of months, we have had to repeat our policy decision. Even as recent as last month, developers were insisting that they had the right to develop hill slopes and some had told a couple of exco members that they were planning to sue us. One of them said we would have to compensate them RM330 million (25% of our state budget) for possible loss of profits. Imagine the pressure of a lobby group whose combined income and assets dwarfs the state government!
Saturday’s tragedy proves the correctness of the decision of the state government. But vindication which comes after the loss of four lives and more homes is unspeakably bitter. There are some 5,000 residents living in the vicinity of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide who face uncertainty and may have to vacate their homes.
We ask that developers stop pursuing and pressuring us to review our policy, and instead thoroughly go through every single technicality of their existing hillslope projects.
While Ikram and the Public Works Department are responsible for pinpointing the cause of the tragedy, the state government will immediately review all approved hillslope projects by the previous administration, whether standing or partially built.
Those where there is no construction yet but approved before March 8 should not be allowed to proceed, especially along the same range of Bukit Antarabangsa and Hulu Kelang – which should include Taman Hijau and Bukit Melawati.
We had come too late. Many of the hillslope projects have been standing for a number of years, some were half completed when we came into power. Without proper maintenance of slopes and drainage on these private lands, tragedy will strike after many years, always after the period of indemnity is over. Those areas shown to be prone to landslides such as in Hulu Kelang, where the Public Works Department had flashed its red card in 2005, more stringent conditions will be imposed on existing projects.
All developers and private land owners have to protect and reinforce their own hillslopes if they want to continue to prosper, own property and do business in Selangor. We recently received complaints from Ampang, Kajang, Cheras and Pandan where private landowners and developers have neglected to protect hillslopes and there are already signs of wear and tear. Some have used plastic sheets and some said they were bankrupt and don’t have the funds to repair their slopes. Whatever. If they do not do the necessary, we will blacklist them.
We ask that “people” be put ahead of “profits”.
We are heartened that finally, after eight months of battling the housing industry, the federal government has come to our side to give Selangor, both the moral and policy support it needs, with both the prime minister and deputy prime minister calling for all hillslope development permits to be cancelled.
We can only hope the federal government doesn’t forget Dec 6, 2008 - like what had happened to Highland Towers (1993); Taman Hillview (2002) and Kg Pasir (2006) - which was less than a kilometre from Saturday’s landslide. Lest the lives lost would be in vain.
The writer is assemblywoman for Bukit Lanjan and state executive councillor in charge of the environment. Comment: letters@thesundaily.com
(Thanks to Andrew Aeria for the headsup)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tanjong Bunga's Hill top park
A look-out tower for panoramic views of Pulau Tikus bay, George Town and the mainland!
Steps and railings for easy access to the hill top.(photos taken in Bunbury, Western Australia)
Let's make it a real: Tanjong Bunga's Hill-top park on Mt Erskine (Pearl Hill)
William Daniell's aquatint, 1821 of 'View of Mount Erskine and Pulo Ticoose'
Mount Erskine and Pulo Ticoose Bay, 1818 by Captain Robert Smith, Penang Museum.John James Erskine, Assistant Superintendent of Marine in Penang, owned the hill of his namesake where was located the signalling station that guided vessels entering the North Channel. Today, the hill is known as Pearl Hill in Tanjong Bungah.
The topography of the mainland is clearly visible including the Prai River and the profile of Bukit Mertajam.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
FREAK FLOODS AT JALAN CHAN SIEW TEONG
IT seems hill-cutting continue to be permitted by the local planning authority despite many cases of land-slides, soil erosion, floods, etc.
Recently, there was flooding of houses and this on a hill-slope in Chee Seng Gardens..!
This is what one of the residents have to say:
"I think a STOP WORK order has to be issued by MPPP in Chee Seng on both developers to put all the developers on notice that we shall not continue living with their nonsense. And the State Govt and MPPP can do this. I cannot accept the current view that this State Govt's hands are tied and that we cannot do anything. That is just a defeatist cop-out excuse to allow developers to run rough-shod over all of us."
The President of MPPP has replied by email to one of our resident's complaints saying that a STOP WORK order will be issued if necessary.
Is this the case of shutting the door after the horse has bolted?
More reports and comments by Anil Netto:
http://anilnetto.com/accountability/are-you-concerned-about-tg-bunga-hill-slope-projects/
http://anilnetto.com/accountability/heres-why-penang-should-ban-hill-slope-development/
http://anilnetto.com/accountability/amazing-ever-seen-a-flooded-hill-slope/#more-2190
http://anilnetto.com/2008/05/26/penang-govt-should-establish-its-green-credentials-fast/
http://anilnetto.com/development-issues/will-penang-follow-selangor-in-banning-hill-slope-development/
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Time for a Town Plan for Tanjong Bunga
Tanjong Bunga is designated as a third -level town in the hierarchy of urban centres identified in the State Structure Plan. It's time we have a town plan based on rational town planning principles and vision of the residents.
There should be a proper town centre where the present market and community centre is located. BSG's upcoming development should be integrated with the site of the present RapidPenang station. Nearby there is the post office, health centre and police station. All these facilities should be within walking distance of each other and accessible by public transport.
There is also the need for sports and recreational facilities. The Town Park should be where the state land has been reclaimed off the previous Tanjung Club. Perhaps a public swimming pool could be built there too!
There should be a proper town centre where the present market and community centre is located. BSG's upcoming development should be integrated with the site of the present RapidPenang station. Nearby there is the post office, health centre and police station. All these facilities should be within walking distance of each other and accessible by public transport.
There is also the need for sports and recreational facilities. The Town Park should be where the state land has been reclaimed off the previous Tanjung Club. Perhaps a public swimming pool could be built there too!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Telok Bahang - Tanjong Bunga Development Corridor
The State Draft Structure Plan shows clearly in this map extracted from the report that Tanjong Bungah is located within the secondary development corridor. The Structure Plan (pg. 4-8) states that:
"Tanjong Bungah - Telok Bahang Corridor represents existing tourism corridor that is undergoing rapid development with 5-star hotels. Infill development of low to medium density will be allowed in the zones identified for general housing (15 units per acre), low density housing (6 units per acre), general/restricted tourism and commercial (plot ratio 1:1). Its natural beauty such as beach resorts, hills and forest will contiune to be preserved as primary assets for the development of this corridor. .."
Apparently the State Town And Country Planning Department which is responsible for the drafting of the Structure Plan is now saying that this policy does not apply to the area within which Tanjong Bungah is located as shown below!
"Tanjong Bungah - Telok Bahang Corridor represents existing tourism corridor that is undergoing rapid development with 5-star hotels. Infill development of low to medium density will be allowed in the zones identified for general housing (15 units per acre), low density housing (6 units per acre), general/restricted tourism and commercial (plot ratio 1:1). Its natural beauty such as beach resorts, hills and forest will contiune to be preserved as primary assets for the development of this corridor. .."
Apparently the State Town And Country Planning Department which is responsible for the drafting of the Structure Plan is now saying that this policy does not apply to the area within which Tanjong Bungah is located as shown below!
Saturday, June 07, 2008
THE STATE STRUCTURE PLAN GUIDES PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
How many of us have heard about the Structure Plan? Not many I would bet. Considering the huge importance this document has over our lives, it is amazing that not many people pay attention to it.
The State Structure plan or "Rancangan Struktur Negeri" in Bahasa is a broad policy plan according to the Town And Country Planning Act, "a written statement- among other things-
(a) formulating the policy and general proposals of the State Authority in respect of the development and use of land, in that State, including measures for the improvement of the physical living environment, the improvement of communications, the management of traffic, the improvement of socio-economic well-being and the promotion of economic growth, and for facilitating sustainable development;
The Act also states that the policy and general proposals in the Structure Plan must be justified by the results of survey that has been carried out by the State Director of Town and Country Planning.
In May 2005, TBRA (then protem-committee) and a number of NGOs participated in the publicity of the Report of Survey exhibited by the State Director Of Town And Country Planning. TBRA then highlighted the fact that there was insufficient publicity given to the Report of Survey. Other than the required notification in two newspapers, there were no public posters put in community centres and other public places informing the public of their rights to give their comments.
Nevertheless, TBRA submitted a three-page memorandum and attended a hearing chaired by the then State Economic Planning Unit Director.
TBRA points out several inconsistencies in the Report of Survey and the Structure Plan.
1. the assumptions that were used in making population projections were not stated. The North East district in which Tanjong Bunga is situated has the highest density. The area for committed developments reported was 1856 hectares, not including the reclaimation areas in Tanjong Tokong which will add another 500 hectares. Added to this, the high development densities allowed in the North East district will further add to the population imbalance in the State highlighted by the survey.
2. There was no explicit distribution of population growth by districts.
3. Environmentally sensitive areas: we proposed that developments on hill slopes should be limited only to detached houses with plinth area not exceeding 30% of the lot.
4. Although Tanjong Bunga has been designated within the beach tourism zone, there is no plan to improve public access, beach activities and natural environment. Instead more and more high-rise high density developments have been allowed. The construction of high-rise apartments on the beach is in conflict with the beach tourism strategy.
5. The survey projected that 20,000 rooms are needed by the year 2020. If the beach tourism zones, like those in Tanjong Bunga continue to be allowed to build high-rise apartments, there will be no suitable land left to build hotels, tourist resorts and other tourism facilities.
6. There is an excess housing stock in North East District by 46, 348 units up to year 2020. Therefore housing densities should be maintained as in existing terrace housing developments of 12 units per acre.
7. There is a shortage of community facilities and public recreational open space in Tanjong Bunga. Although the survey includes private facilities like the Penang Swimming Club and Chinese Swimming Club, these are private clubs and cater to populations outside of the Tanjong Tokong - Tanjong Bunga - Batu Ferringi and Telok Bahang areas.
TBRA has already pointed out the discrepancy in the Structure Plan's illustration map which does not show that Tanjong Bunga is in the secondary development corridor.
TBRA calls upon the Chief Minister who is the Chairman of the State Planning Committee to address these issues. TBRA as an organisation that looks after the public interest of Tanjong Bunga residents in particular should be consulted in the drafting of the local plan as is required by law.
The State Structure plan or "Rancangan Struktur Negeri" in Bahasa is a broad policy plan according to the Town And Country Planning Act, "a written statement- among other things-
(a) formulating the policy and general proposals of the State Authority in respect of the development and use of land, in that State, including measures for the improvement of the physical living environment, the improvement of communications, the management of traffic, the improvement of socio-economic well-being and the promotion of economic growth, and for facilitating sustainable development;
The Act also states that the policy and general proposals in the Structure Plan must be justified by the results of survey that has been carried out by the State Director of Town and Country Planning.
In May 2005, TBRA (then protem-committee) and a number of NGOs participated in the publicity of the Report of Survey exhibited by the State Director Of Town And Country Planning. TBRA then highlighted the fact that there was insufficient publicity given to the Report of Survey. Other than the required notification in two newspapers, there were no public posters put in community centres and other public places informing the public of their rights to give their comments.
Nevertheless, TBRA submitted a three-page memorandum and attended a hearing chaired by the then State Economic Planning Unit Director.
TBRA points out several inconsistencies in the Report of Survey and the Structure Plan.
1. the assumptions that were used in making population projections were not stated. The North East district in which Tanjong Bunga is situated has the highest density. The area for committed developments reported was 1856 hectares, not including the reclaimation areas in Tanjong Tokong which will add another 500 hectares. Added to this, the high development densities allowed in the North East district will further add to the population imbalance in the State highlighted by the survey.
2. There was no explicit distribution of population growth by districts.
3. Environmentally sensitive areas: we proposed that developments on hill slopes should be limited only to detached houses with plinth area not exceeding 30% of the lot.
4. Although Tanjong Bunga has been designated within the beach tourism zone, there is no plan to improve public access, beach activities and natural environment. Instead more and more high-rise high density developments have been allowed. The construction of high-rise apartments on the beach is in conflict with the beach tourism strategy.
5. The survey projected that 20,000 rooms are needed by the year 2020. If the beach tourism zones, like those in Tanjong Bunga continue to be allowed to build high-rise apartments, there will be no suitable land left to build hotels, tourist resorts and other tourism facilities.
6. There is an excess housing stock in North East District by 46, 348 units up to year 2020. Therefore housing densities should be maintained as in existing terrace housing developments of 12 units per acre.
7. There is a shortage of community facilities and public recreational open space in Tanjong Bunga. Although the survey includes private facilities like the Penang Swimming Club and Chinese Swimming Club, these are private clubs and cater to populations outside of the Tanjong Tokong - Tanjong Bunga - Batu Ferringi and Telok Bahang areas.
TBRA has already pointed out the discrepancy in the Structure Plan's illustration map which does not show that Tanjong Bunga is in the secondary development corridor.
TBRA calls upon the Chief Minister who is the Chairman of the State Planning Committee to address these issues. TBRA as an organisation that looks after the public interest of Tanjong Bunga residents in particular should be consulted in the drafting of the local plan as is required by law.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
SO WHERE IS TANJONG BUNGA?
If the State Exco has its way, Tanjong Bunga will be wiped off the map, literally! The Penang Structure Plan has clearly designated Tanjong Bunga - Telok Bahang as the Secondary development corridor (Spatial Development Policy No.5 - DSU5 L1) while the George Town - Tanjung Tokong Corridor is designated as the Primary Development Corridor. This is fine and it is just what Tanjong Bunga residents are asking for. But wait! In the illustration map in the Structure Plan (Fig. 4.2 Penang State Development Corridors) the name Tanjong Bunga does not appear in the area coloured green which denotes Secondary Development Corridor. The State Town and Country Planning Department (JPBD) has this interpretation that the Secondary Development Corridor starts from Mar Vista Resort. However according to the Town limit gazette notification P.U. No. 50 of 30-6-66, the boundary of Tanjong Bunga starts from where Tanjong Bunga Hotel is located.
It is indeed curious that in such an important diagram, a nondescript development named Mar Vista Resort is prominently labelled instead of Tanjong Bunga. Even more curious is that Tanjong Tokong is labelled in the location where Tanjong Bunga should be.
Well, it appears that the State Exco has swallowed this interpetation of JPBD hook, line and sinker! God help us what have we done on March 8?
It is indeed curious that in such an important diagram, a nondescript development named Mar Vista Resort is prominently labelled instead of Tanjong Bunga. Even more curious is that Tanjong Tokong is labelled in the location where Tanjong Bunga should be.
Well, it appears that the State Exco has swallowed this interpetation of JPBD hook, line and sinker! God help us what have we done on March 8?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
North Coast residents want balanced development
A scenic bridge in Croatia, an emerging holiday destination in the Adriatic Sea for Europeans. Here the beautiful and pristine sea and natural environment is retained.
First of all, we express out full support to the government in practising the principles of competency, accountability and transparency.
We are well aware of the many issues that the new government has to deal with since its formation but we would like to focus on the physical or spatial planning aspects as they impact most on every one in Penang.
We fully acknowledge the need for the government to create a ‘business-friendly’ environment in order to spur economic development in Penang. However this must be clearly translated into practical actions of improving the delivery system, reducing the cost of doing business, clean and efficient public service, eliminating red-tape, ‘no-wrong door’ policy, quick and accurate access to information, and so on.
Creating such conducive environments for existing and potential investors should not be confused as a ‘pro-business-at-the-expense-of’ mentality. We have seen how demands by certain segments of the business sector have influenced the ‘pro-business’ government in the past at the expense of everybody else and Penang’s unique environment.
Put in another way, we urge the State government to adopt a sustainable development approach that considers the need to balance development with the conservation of our natural resources, which precious little has been diminishing at an alarming pace, and to improve the quality of life in Penang.
There are many important employment generating economic sectors like tourism, education, health, services, R&D which have not been given the required attention in the State’s Structure Plan, but instead there has been an over-emphasis on real estate development which like a beaver, is gnawing away Penang’s precious hill slopes, forests beaches and valuable agriculture land.
We are therefore submitting that an expeditious review of the State Structure Plan policies is urgently needed as everything else (investment promotions, local plans) will emanate from it.
In the mean time, we are not suggesting that planning applications or development should be stopped but rather to sieve those that have more serious environmental, traffic and social impact so that they can be evaluated against a local plan that has been drafted with public consultation respecting the spirit of the Town and Country Planning Act.
We fully acknowledge the need for the government to create a ‘business-friendly’ environment in order to spur economic development in Penang. However this must be clearly translated into practical actions of improving the delivery system, reducing the cost of doing business, clean and efficient public service, eliminating red-tape, ‘no-wrong door’ policy, quick and accurate access to information, and so on.
Creating such conducive environments for existing and potential investors should not be confused as a ‘pro-business-at-the-expense-of’ mentality. We have seen how demands by certain segments of the business sector have influenced the ‘pro-business’ government in the past at the expense of everybody else and Penang’s unique environment.
Put in another way, we urge the State government to adopt a sustainable development approach that considers the need to balance development with the conservation of our natural resources, which precious little has been diminishing at an alarming pace, and to improve the quality of life in Penang.
There are many important employment generating economic sectors like tourism, education, health, services, R&D which have not been given the required attention in the State’s Structure Plan, but instead there has been an over-emphasis on real estate development which like a beaver, is gnawing away Penang’s precious hill slopes, forests beaches and valuable agriculture land.
We are therefore submitting that an expeditious review of the State Structure Plan policies is urgently needed as everything else (investment promotions, local plans) will emanate from it.
In the mean time, we are not suggesting that planning applications or development should be stopped but rather to sieve those that have more serious environmental, traffic and social impact so that they can be evaluated against a local plan that has been drafted with public consultation respecting the spirit of the Town and Country Planning Act.
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