GEORGE TOWN: Residents of Gat Lebuh Sandilands have accused the Penang Government of failing to live up to its Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) policy when planning a housing project in their area.
State Barisan public complaints bureau vice-chairman Lee Hack Teik, who was highlighting their plight, claimed the residents’ views were not consulted on the project.
“They wanted to know how they would be compensated. They also do not know when their houses would be demolished and where they would be staying during the development.
“They are not against the development. They urge the state government to be transparent and provide them with answers to their queries in black and white,” he told reporters at the residents’ houses off Gat Lebuh Cecil yesterday.
He said there were 54 houses — 23 with Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) and 31 without TOL.
He added that the residents also wanted to know the fate of the temples, small factories and commercial offices in the area.
It was reported on Jan 17 that a request for proposal for an affordable housing project on a 1.7ha plot in Jalan C.Y. Choy had been made.
Penang Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow had said 200 to 300 units of affordable and low medium-cost units would be built as a state government project.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had said bidders must take into account the amount of compensation for those now occupying the land.
A resident, Lim Cheng Hai, 50, said he was shocked to hear about the project which he only knew about from the newspapers.
When asked if he would be willing to move, he said he had been staying there for over 40 years and would still like to stay there if compensated with an affordable unit.
At press time, Chow could not be reached for comment. - The Star
No comments:
Post a Comment