BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Island and Seberang Prai local plans are in the process of finalisation, with the latter ahead of the former.
The Penang Island local plan is being prepared by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), while the Seberang Prai local plan is ready.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the Penang Island local plan needed to be redone due to numerous issues raised regarding the previous draft plan that was exhibited.
He said that the MBPP had appointed a consultant to address these concerns.
"For the Penang Island local plan, we expect to complete it by the end of this year. It will then be made available for public consultation. Both local plans will only be gazetted next year," he told newsmen today.
He was met at the state-level World Town Planning Day 2024 event at the PICCA Convention Centre here. Also present were state Local Government Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye and PLANMalaysia Penang director Datuk Rozita Hamit.
The last draft of the Penang Island local plan was completed in 2007 under the then Barisan Nasional administration. However, before it could be gazetted, Pakatan Harapan took over the state administration in 2008. PH presented its first draft local plan for public display in 2022, which elicited criticism and negative feedback. The draft local plan was subsequently redrawn.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) urged the Penang government to put on hold all approvals for any mega projects on the island, such as the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Penang Hill Cable Car, until the Penang Island local plan is in place.
At the event, Chow also witnessed the launch of the electronic monitoring structure plan (eMOSPlan), developed to complete the monitoring system of the Penang Structure Plan 2030.
He said with the launch of eMOSPlan, every policy could be monitored.
"This also included the agencies responsible for them.
"The people can see the effectiveness of the policies implemented," he added.