CM Lim Guan Eng on youtube about the demolition of Pudu jail

From: "Lim Cheok Siang Jimmy" <notification+m5jvuid_@facebookmail.com>
Date: December 24, 2011 7:13:53 GMT+08:00
To: "Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) Discussions" <penangheritagetrust@groups.facebook.com>
Subject: Re: [Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) Discussions] New link
Reply-To: Reply to comment <g+42u0wgj000000bseogj002q5r886qr30022zn4z0e201yd46@groups.facebook.com>

Lim Cheok Siang Jimmy commented on Citizen Chant's post in Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) Discussions Lim Cheok Siang Jimmy 24 December 07:13 If he can say all that I cannot imagine that he would have allowed all the things happening in Penang. It may suggest that most of the things against heritage are done without his know ledge...what say you guys? Agree or not? Immediately I can think of so many Agencies in Penang who may not be doing their job or are misled into believing that their job scope is only very small and limited. This notion is then conveyed to the CM and he being a good and trusting leader acts on their recommendations. (Also first timer CM leh). Unlike Tsu Khoon who had govern Pennag for so long LGE is new and not conversant with how the Local Government is run. So he acts on poor advice and many things related to the heritage matters and environmental issues not properly handled.......like "stop work order" becomes commencement of work, telling a person who has done something wrong to quickly rectify the wrong by submitting plans and rushing them through on a VIP pass? Or a "rebuild Order" has become a wait and see game. How lah CM to run a City and State as beautifula s Penang? Despite most of the GTWH core site is zoned for "Residential, Commercial, Markets, Institutional, Religious" purposes under the Planning Guidelines, why is the Local Authorities allowing "Agriculture and Farming" of sorts to be allowed in the city that is not ZONED for that purpose? Why? IS there a hidden agenda? So that means KFC can tomorrow move their chicken farm to a KOMTAR WALK shoplot, to supply chicken to their outlet at KOMTAR WALK? YB CHow how do you think this would fit in with your scheme of things to improve patronage of Komtar (Everbright)? Our Government should now send a message out to the Government Agencies that they must do their job for the protection and enjoyment of the people living in the city. Reason the people are "hammering" this Government for all the mistakes the agencies created......and this will change once they get re-erected into office as the people are behind the Government but not behind poor workers in Govern Agencies and bad messengers. Comment history Lim Cheok Siang Jimmy 24 December 06:46 Can someone tell our CM that we all speak the same language as he did over the Pudu Jail issue. Somehow I think in the translation or transfer of information to the CM by his 'under-links' and abled assistants our intents and message got screwed up and he ends up thinking that we are "against" him big time and he angry with us 'environmentalists and heritage freaks'. BUT LGE SPEAKS SAME language..........so how can be enemy. Maybe many messengers speak different "lingos".....which explains why CM gets confuse information.......like we are told that the 'Cheng Hoo" of Ayer Itam is not LGE. Did his people tell him that? This is bad politics. People may end up erecting a wrong person to Govern the next time. Make hay whilst the sun shine. I extracted some quotes by LGE which could have 1. "Express my regrets at the demolition of the Pudu Jail wall" ….CM Penang 2. "…sad that historic building build in 1895 is torn down to make way for commercial development" ….CM Penang 3. "…remind the Fed Gov. that you cannot buy heritage. Once it is destroyed nothing can return it back" ….CM Penang 4. "…some countries like Singapore ….to make way for sky scrapers……now………..if given an opportunity to do it again, they would retain many of the heritage buildings" ….CM Penang 5. "……remember you can buy a lot of things cannot buy love or time." ….CM Penang 6. "You must have your cultural assets in place. Malaysia wants to become a civil society….to be a civil society you must first be a civilised Nation to be a civilised Nation you must first make sure you are able to take care and protect your cultural assets." ….CM Penang 7. "…..it is still part of our past and heritage" ….CM Penang 8. "…..money is not everything" ….CM Penang 9. "Do they tear down the great wall of Chinas to make way for development? " ….CM Penang 10. "If we as a Nation do not know how to preserve and protect our cultural heritage it does not reflect well on all of us" ….CM Penang 11. "…..Disappointment on the failure of the Gov. and the wrong sense of priority……..where they place the value of money and commercial interests than… protecting the heritage" ….CM Penang 12. "I mean for us if in Penang we can stop the development by not approving the plans unless you conform to heritage requirements…developments can complement each other….development also retain heritage aspect by complementing and supplementing each other. It is not mutually exclusive that you have to destroy one (heritage) to replace with a modern development. I think you can complement and supplement each other" ….CM Penang been us Chanting......." Yan Lee 23 December 18:12 we want this man, watch this video Original post Citizen Chant 23 December 16:38 DAP express regret over Pudu Jail www.youtube.com DAP MPs, led by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today expressed regret that there has been no eff... View Post on Facebook · Edit email settings · Reply to this email to add a comment.

PGGOV gets brick bas n praises

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22 December 2011 | last updated at 11:22pm

Govt gets brickbats and praise

By LOOI SUE-CHERN
penang@nst.com.my | 0 comments

Penang Forum's symposium to discuss development and good governance end in a call for a better-planned, more systematic, holistic and sustainable growth process for the state

There are concerns that new developments on the island pay little regard to issues such as sustainability.

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GEORGE TOWN: Penang Forum, an informal network of 40 local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), residents' associations (RAs) and concerned individuals, is calling for the state government to adopt a more people-centred, sustainable and greener approach in the development of the state.

It said the emergence of new development projects on the island, had caused alarm.

At its recent symposium on development and good governance, Penang Forum 4, on Sunday, the participants demanded that developments be in concordance with genuine need, as  it was perceived that the new developments on the island had paid scant regard to sustainable development principles.

A statement issued the following day said a resolution was passed at the end of the symposium concluding that the government and local councils must implement a better planned, more systematic, a holistic and a sustainable development process.

To address rising concerns of over-development, Penang Forum 4 resolved that the state must institute a more participatory planning process, including the organisation of workshops to educate and engage the public on Local Plan drafts before approval.

The NGOs want the state to impose a moratorium on high-rise or high-density developments until the Local Plan was approved.

On land-reclamation projects, it said the state must also formulate land-use and land reclamation policies to ensure that it maintained control over matters such as planning.

Such policies would also help to protect the state's financial interests for the benefit of marginalised and vulnerable groups of Penangites, and allow provisions for sufficient affordable housing, public parks and social amenities on reclaimed land.

Penang Forum also urged the state government to formulate innovative and independent fiscal policies to generate and conserve financial resources for projects that would yield long-term benefits to the community.

"It must also address the poor integration of transport in town planning and land-use planning policies, and solve the RAs' various problems, especially by implementing independent social, environmental and traffic impact assessments for new projects.

"The local authorities must ensure that prompt enforcement exercises are taken for violations of laws or by-laws," Penang Forum demanded.

At earlier discussions at the symposium, the powers-that-be were criticised for the mess Penang island was perceived to be in. Traffic congestion, another nagging problem on the island, was raised, with Penang Traffic Council member Low Swee Heong saying that a major cause was the lack of enforcement to tackle illegal parking.

He also expressed concern at the state's independent announcement of plans for new expressways and roads when Penang's transport system and traffic situation were still under study by consultants.

It was not all brickbats, however. Penang Forum 4 noted improvements made by the state government and local councils that had increased efficiency and effectiveness in many areas.

The introduction of the open-tender system, no-plastic bag and no-Styrofoam policies, car-free days and Penang Speakers' Square; and initiatives that had allowed culture and the arts to flourish in Penang were recognised and praised.

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RAs pykett , tanjung tokong village speaks out

Call to freeze plans for village

By LOOI SUE-CHERN
penang@nstp.com.my | 0 comments

The heritage status of the Tanjung Tokong Malay village should be sorted out before any redevelopment is approved

Plans for redevelopment have been asked to be put on hold until the heritage status of the village can be determined.

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GEORGE TOWN: THE Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) has been urged to freeze plans concerning the Tanjung Tokong Malay village, until matters regarding its heritage status had been sorted out.

The village  had been earmarked for  redevelopment  by  UDA Holdings Bhd.

Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Dr Siti Nabiha Abd Khalid, who was born in the village, said the state had so far been unable to provide clear answers to what the status meant, although Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had announced at the state legislative assembly on Nov 3 that Kampung Tanjung Tokong would have its heritage status restored.

"Until everything has been sorted out, we urge MPPP to freeze any approval on the village's redevelopment," she said at a symposium on Development and Good Governance organised by Penang Forum recently.

Muslim heritage adviser Datuk Dr Wazir Jahan Karim said the state government should call for a meeting with UDA to straighten things out. Residents and NGOs should also participate in this meeting.

At the symposium, local concerns of residents' associations regarding the island were also raised, such as the standing order by the MPPP to rebuild the illegally-demolished bungalow at 20, Lebuhraya Pykett, which the developer has yet to comply.

Lebuhraya Pykett resident Yan Lee said they were informed that the MPPP had failed to find the bungalow's plans, but that should not be made an excuse not to rebuild the bungalow.

It was previously reported that the developer had plans to build a multi-million ringgit high-rise residential project on the old bungalow's site on Lot 951 of Lebuhraya Pykett.

Yan said the residents in the Pykett-Khaw Sim Bee-Westlands area were concerned that the project would affect the area's drainage, sewage, traffic and parking and urged for proper sustainability impact assessment (SIA) and traffic impact assessment (TIA) to be done.

Tanjung Tokong Residents' Association (TBRA) representative Lee Laine brought up a flood incident in Taman Chee Seng on Dec 9, which was said to be due to a development project up the hill.

"Following a complaint to MPPP, the developer was just told to rectify the problem. This is a case of the MPPP not watching the hill slope project closely," she claimed, adding that Tanjung Bungah had also seen incidents of blasting, whi ch did not comply to regulations.

Meanwhile, Seberang Prai Municipal councillor Dr Tiun Ling Ta, who also spoke at the symposium, said many areas on the mainland were still under-developed and there were demands for better infrastructure.

"There are also issues of able-bodied people occupying the special parking lots at shopping complexes, a problem that the MPSP claimed to be beyond its control, but we feel the council can do something through its licensing department," said Tiun, who is also a USM lecturer and Society of the Orthopediacally Handicapped Malaysia (Pocam) president.

He also lamented Seberang Prai's illegal cow and buffalo rearing activities in residential areas and industrial estates, especially in Batu Kawan, and the lack of proper public space or parks, which mainland residents could identify with.

Another MPSP councillor, Jeffrey Lim said the council was also dealing with illegal structures in residential and industrial areas, and there were cases of such structures or extensions posing as obstructions to fire engines during emergencies.

He also said  MPSP had a 24-hour demolition committee, but it was not effective, as those who flaunt the law were well-versed with the council's legal loopholes, and even dragged in politicians to intervene.

"One option would be to blacklist  architects, developers or contractors involved in the construction of illegal structures," said Lim.

Penang Forum 4 - 8 resolutions

Penang Forum 4 resolutions

 Civil society, Development issues,Environment, Housing, Sustainable development Add comments

Dec202011

 

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The Penang Forum 4 event on Saturday raised a host of planning and development issues and stimulated intense discussion. Concerned participants wrapped up the day by adopting eight resolutions.

The following resolutions were adopted by participants of the Penang Forum 4: Development and Good Governance event on 18 December 2011 at the Caring Society Complex, Penang.

Recognising that the current Penang state government, the MPPP and the MPSP have increased their efficiency and effectiveness and introduced some praiseworthy measures such as the open-tender system, the No-Plastic Bags and Styrofoam policy, the Car-Free Days, the Penang Speakers' Square

Appreciating that there is now more space for civil society groups and arts and culture to flourish,

Mindful of the present lopsidedness in federal-state powers and the limited financial resources of the state and local government,

However, alarmed by the increasing susceptibility of the government to the neo-liberal global and local forces pushing a certain top-down, mega projects-driven approach to development that often pays scant regard to sustainable development principles, and

Conscious of the need for a more people-centred, sustainable and greener approach to development based on the real needs of the people,

We, the participants of Penang Forum 4, call upon the Penang state government and municipal councils to

1. implement a planned and more systematic, holistic and sustainable development process,
2. institute a more participatory planning process, including organising a series of workshops to educate and engage the public on draft Local Plans prior to their approval;
3. impose a moratorium on highrise and high density buildings until such time that the Local Plans have been approved by the Penang people.
4. address and resolve the problems of the various residents associations especially by implementing independent social, environmental and traffic impact assessments for new projects;
5. formulate land-use and land reclamation policies that would ensure that the state maintains effective control over land-use planning and protects its long-term financial interests to serve the best interests of ordinary Penangites, in particular marginalised and vulnerable groups, including the provision of sufficient affordable housing, public parks, and social amenities;
6. formulate innovative yet prudent independent fiscal policies that would allow the state/local government to generate and conserve financial resources for projects that would bring about the maximum long-term benefit to local communities;
7. address the poor integration of transport within the town planning and land-use planning policies; and
8. ensure the prompt enforcement of legislation for the violation of any laws or by-laws.

Participants of Penang Forum 4
18 December 2011

yanclee@yahoo.co.uk has shared: Small fine for Pykett Ave demolition

Small fine for Pykett Ave demolition Source: anilnetto.com TweetSharebar TweetUpdate: The maximum fine under the law for this offence is RM500,000 or two years jail or both. The CM has described the RM6,000 fine imposed as a mere slap on the wrist and has instructed the MPPP to appeal for a heavier sentence. The firm responsible for demolishing an old double-storey building along Pykett Avenue without local council planning permission was fined a small sum by the magistrate's court yesterday. Klassik Tropika Development Sdn Bhd of the Mah Sing Group was fined RM6,000 for the demolition, which took place just days before a scheduled MPPP inspection (probably to assess if the site had any heritage value) in July 2010. This saga brings back memories of how a RM2 company was fined RM50,000 for the Christmas Day 1993 demolition of the historical Metropole Hotel, a property worth RM9.5 million back then. Seriously, [Read more]
yanclee@yahoo.co.uk sent this using ShareThis.

MPPP to arrange public consultation over Pykett Avenue

Posted on 28 July 2011 - 04:54pm

Bernard Cheah
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGETOWN (July 28, 2011): The Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) will arrange a public consultation with residents living around Pykett Avenue where a high-rise condominium project is being planned on the site of an illegally demolished colonial-era bungalow.

Penang Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the blueprint of the four towers, which are being planned by developer Klassik Tropika Sdn Bhd, will be displayed to the public and residents in the neighbourhood for their feedback.

"We are waiting for the applicant to submit the subsequent plan with more details," he said after a dialogue session with more than 50 residents last night.

Klassik Tropika, a subsidiary of Mah Sing Group Bhd, submitted a proposal to the MPPP on Oct 6 last year for an apartment complex with four towers on the site.

This was after it had torn down the old structure at 20 Pykett Avenue without approval on July 26 last year.

On Jan 11 this year, MPPP issued an order to Klassik Tropika to rebuild the double-storey bungalow. The building was originally owned by Khaw Bian Cheng Sdn Bhd, which is connected to the 19th century magnate Khaw Sim Bee who became governor of Phuket in the 1890s.

Klassik Tropika said it had complied with action taken against it, including a fine of RM6,000 set by the Georgetown magistrate's court on Jan 17 this year for demolishing the bungalow without permit.

The demolition last year caused an outcry from heritage activists and nearby residents.

"The developer would have to take note of various MPPP departments' conditions to ensure the convenience of the existing community around the area. We want the developer to look into the interest of others as well," Chow said.

He added that the residents had expressed deep concern about how the high-density project would affect the infrastructure in the neighbourhood, including roads, the drainage systems, the water and electricity system.