GEORGE TOWN: A DAP assemblyman has lashed out against hillslope projects in Penang, particularly in the north-eastern coastal area, and the proposed construction of a 49-storey “super condo” on the Batu Ferringhi seafront.
Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu, who is outspoken on environmental issues, said it was time to stop all hillslope development in Penang.
“Although the hills are not dying', certain developers want to maximise their profits and are trying to kill off the highlands. Be it hillslope development or illegal hillslope farming, the hills and greenery are under threat.
“Even the coastal areas are not spared,” he said in an interview.
Teh said there were over 10 high-rise projects planned along the hillslope and seafront areas in his constituency, adding that the “super condo” developer was in the midst of submitting planning permission to the Penang Municipal Council.
“My constituents do not want high-rise or high-density development, which threatens the environment and mars the scenic beauty of Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi.
“If the council approves these projects, it must bear full responsibility if an environmental disaster occurs,” he said.
Teh was commenting on “The Dying Hills” report in The Star on June 6 on protests against increasing hillslope development in Penang, which could damage the environment.
He also urged the two municipal councils in these areas to form a coastal and hillslope engineering department to monitor and prepare Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports for such projects.
Currently, the engineering department's job scope was too general and not focused enough on environmentally sensitive development, he said.
Teh also claimed that there were instances in which decision-makers in the respective government bodies were not given a complete and detailed picture of the actual scenario, resulting in “biased decisions”.
“The state's stand is that hillslope development above 76m high will not be allowed but in my personal view, anything above 45m must also be controlled,” he said.
Teh also hit out at certain developers who were manipulating loopholes in the law for their own benefit and at the expense of the environment.
“I've heard of a developer in Tanjung Bungah who only submitted the necessary application for a high-rise condominium project after flattening the land. When they apply for planning permission, they would say that it's not on a slope and officers processing the applications aren't any wiser,” he said. - The Star
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