GEORGE TOWN: A coalition of civil societies in Penang has urged the people to reject the Penang Island Draft Local Plan, saying it spells disaster and will create an unlivable city.
They claimed that the draft plan would turn Penang into a "big ghost city", forcing locals to move elsewhere.
Penang Forum steering committee member Dr Lim Mah Hui said one example was the zoning of the Penang Turf Club prime land to prime commercial and mixed development under the draft plan.
Lim reminded the Penang government that it promised the people in 2008 that it would not approve the massive Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project, which comprises 36 tower blocks on the Penang Turf Club land, which was overwhelmingly rejected by the people due to its traffic, environmental and social impact.
He said the 100 per cent prime commercial and mixed development was a shocking high-intensity development paradigm that reneged on the state government's promise and would result in unsustainable development with irreversible negative environmental, social, traffic and visual impact.
"Historically, the land was given by the state government at generous prices to be used as a green recreational space. Green zoning was changed to mixed development land zoning for PGCC, resulting in a possible built-up of almost 2 million sq ft.
"The draft plan is proposing to change the zoning to prime commercial and mixed development (175.4 acres, equivalent to the footprint of seven Komtar, the state's tallest structure), resulting in a possible gross built-up area of 42.3 million sq ft. The original intent has been greatly abused.
"No statistical justification or a statement of need for the proposed land use is provided. The planning authority must recognise that there are limits to growth.
"This kind of over-development is unprecedented. It will result in irreversible negative impact, with major ramifications for the whole of Penang island that will disrupt environmental, social and economic dynamics, among others," he said yesterday.
Lim called on the people to make their objections known and question their elected representatives.
"This draft plan is a very important document and the priority should be the bottom-up approach rather than the top-down approach."
Penang unveiled the draft plan on Oct 20 last year, before the 15th General Election. It will be on public display until Jan 10, following a month-long extension.
Penang Heritage Trust vice-president Khoo Salma Nasution said there was a need for a total review of the assets inventory listed in the draft plan before valuable assets were lost to ignorance and greed.
She said the lack of a comprehensive inventory led to Penang allowing the demolition of heritage buildings, including one on Peel Avenue in 2017 and recently, "Penang's Taj Mahal" in Tanjung Tokong, which is the tomb of Foo Teng Nyong, the principal wife of Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee.
She said the former government quarters in Jalan Chow Thye had been rezoned to a high-density commercial lot in the draft plan, which meant the state government's own heritage properties were at risk.
"The draft plan chapter on heritage and urban identity contains a list of 52 heritage buildings and sites outside the George Town World Heritage Site. Although additional heritage streets or areas are shown in other illustrations, their status is unclear.
"The draft plan apparently did not consult the Penang Hill Special Area Plan or Penang Island City Council's gazetted Special Area Plan or other heritage inventories.
"The number of heritage buildings listed in the draft plan, which is 1,714 heritage buildings (56 Category I and 1,648 Category II), does not tally with that in the updated George Town Special Area Plan's list of 3,977 heritage buildings (82 Category I and 3,895 Category II)."
Khoo Salma reminded the state authorities that the draft plan should prioritise people already living in Penang, not those who will move to the state.
"The people who are already here need wellbeing, sustainable development and green spaces, not destruction, like that of Gurney Drive.
"By purely rezoning structures in the inner city to commercial, this will drive locals out and we will end up being a big ghost city. This whole planning is a disaster and will create an unlivable city.
"The people should actively reject the draft plan."