letter to CM eighth June 2011

From: b nawawi
Date: June 8, 2011 18:22:25 GMT+08:00
To: Patahiyah Bt Ismail , chowkonyeow@penang.gov.my, limguaneng@penang.gov.my
Cc: citizen-nades@thesundaily.com, editor@themalaysianinsider.com, editor@thestar.com.my, editorial-pg@guangming.com.my, info@sinchew-i.com, letters@freemalaysiatoday.com, letters@thesundaily.com, malaysiachronicle@gmail.com, mtadmin.contact@gmail.com, news@nstp.com.my, newsdesk@thesundaily.com, north@thestar.com.my, penang@chinapress.com.my, penang@nanyang.com.my, radiantjustice@yahoo.com, starprobe@thestar.com.my, CHONG CHENG HAI , editor malaysian chronical , Himanshu Bhatt , kwongwah , nst penang , "Regional Editor (North) Choi Tuck Wo" , Penang Heritage Trust , Shamiah Binti Haji Bilal , "Sheau Fung, Ho" , Clement LIANG , Dr Choong Sim Poey , Jack ONG , Jack Ong , Joe Sidek , Lim Gaik Siang , Loh-Lim Lin Lee , Rebecca WILKINSON , Salma Khoo , Sharom AHMAT , Timothy Tye , Woo Yee Saik , Leslie James , "y.lee" , vannangt , "Alex Koenig (Europe online)" , Salma Khoo , "Lau Pei Ling (PHT)" , Ahmad CHIK , Amy Chung , Chin-Tong Liew , "Dato' Lee Kah Choon" , Ann Lee
Subject: Re: 20, LEBUHRAYA PYKETT ILLEGAL DEMOLITION OF BUILDING

I should add that we are all for sustainable development, but no to illegal and irresponsible development.

On Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 6:18 PM, b nawawi wrote:


On Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 6:18 PM, b nawawi wrote:
Puan, YB and CM,

We wish to highlight to your office again that the illegal demolition of the bungalow at  20 Pykett has caused major repercussions in Penang. 

The owners of the land were fined a small sum, this amount is less then 1% of the total GDV of the project.

This is a problem as it is not a deterrent to other developers. It is only logical to disregard the implications of demolishing a building without planning permission and be a irresponsible developer. Pay the fine and that is it. The developer will costs all this into their new project, no big deal. Land costs is rising to a level of 400 per sq foot in town, this is making it more and more lucrative for developers to knock down buildings to develop new mega structures. [no difference if Heritage buildings or not]

Now another bungalow on Burmah Road, opposite Convent Pulau Tikus is under threat. a small difference being that this developer  is a responsible developer, they have applied for planning permission to demolish the bungalow, waiting for approval from MPPP. http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2011/06/04/18.html

What is to stop them from taking it down tomorrow ?? Knock it down and pay a RM6000,00 fine. Precedent has been set by the courts. All the lawyers in town know of this case, they shall advice their clients accordingly. Fair enough, 20 Pykett was not listed as heritage since the ORANGE bungalow is double the fine. Still cheap for a 500million GDV project. 

MPPP is also making excuses that they cannot find detail drawings, we have consulted our consultants from Penang and Australia and have been advice that there are other methods available to perform reconstruction on site. MPPP having ordered the owners to unconditionally reconstruct the building, should push for this.

CM it is imperative that action is taken to prevent errant developers from demolishing buildings without planning permission, we note inadequacy in our system, that is why we need to address them. 

Our Heritage buildings are not safe !! pay a small fine is not a deterrent.

The oppurtiunity is before the Penang Government and MPPP to stop future illegal demolitions happening, new common law has to be made in courts to protect our heritage buildings. Penang is a UNESCO listed living Heritage city today. This listing has done wonders for Penang.

Thank you for a new Malaysia.

Yours sincerely
Dr. B Nawawi.

The press can you help to publicise this issue.

MPPP looking for photos of old bungalow

Documents, pictures of bungalow sought
Bernard Cheah
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGE TOWN (March 31, 2011): The Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) is in the midst of locating documents of a colonial-era bungalow here which was illegally demolished last year.

This move is part of efforts to rebuild it to its approximate original condition.

MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail said the council’s officials are gathering plans and pictures of the double-storey building at 20 Pykett Avenue which was torn down without a permit on July 26 last year.

“The council’s building department is tracing the plans, and asking people in the surrounding area to provide old photos as we do not have these,” she said adding that a search is on to find the old plans.

MPPP had on Jan 11 issued an order to developer Klassik Tropika Sdn Bhd to rebuild the bungalow it had torn down without the necessary approval.

The demolition of the building led to an outcry from heritage activists and residents nearby.

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, a subsidiary of Mah Sing Group Bhd, submitted a proposal to build an apartment complex with four high-rise towers at the site, to MPPP on Oct 6 last year.

The company has said that it had already complied with action taken against it, including a fine of RM6,000 set by the George Town magistrate’s court on Jan 17 this year, for demolishing the bungalow without a permit.

“We will let (state Local Government Committee chairman) Chow Kon Yeow give further comments on this as he wants to make an announcement about it,” Patahiyah added when asked about the matter at a press conference today.


Updated: 10:34PM Thu, 31 Mar 2011

update from MPPP

From: b nawawi
Date: April 2, 2011 16:02:50 GMT+08:00
To: Aduan
Cc: "limguaneng@penang.gov.my" , Patahiyah Bt Ismail , Patrick Khoo Poh Aik , Nor Rezan bt Sulaiman , Azizul Fahmi bin Muhammad , Yan Lee
Subject: Re: 20, LEBUHRAYA PYKETT ILLEGAL DEMOLITION OF BUILDING

thank you for the mail.

I will send copies to the neighbours in Pykett , Khaw Sim Bee and
Westland area.

We feel very strongly that any corporation should not be allowed to
demolish buildings may it be heritage or otherwise. Penang is now a
UNESCO Heritage City, we need to keep and maintain our heritage. New
precedence must be set to protect our buildings. MPPP is heading in
the correct direction.

This UNESCO listing is bring more and more tourists to our shores. It
is so noticeble aroung the Heritage enclave an increase of foreigners
in our midst.

Thank you for a new Malaysia.

On Friday, April 1, 2011, Aduan wrote:

Tuan,

Dengan segala hormatnya Majlis merujuk kepada aduan tuan mengenai perkara di atas.

2.        Untuk makluman, siasatan Majlis mendapati pemilik tanah ialah Klassik Tropika Development Sdn. Bhd. Kes ini telah dibicarakan di
mahkamah Majistret George Town. Mahkamah telah mengenakan hukuman denda sebanyak RM6,000.00.



3.        Unit Undang-undang Majlis dalam proses rayuan kepada Mahkamah Tinggi berkenaan dengan denda yang patut dikenakan. Rayuan tersebut
masih belum didengar oleh mahkamah. Lanjutan daripada keputusan mahkamah, Majlis juga telah mengeluarkan notis di bawah Seksyen 27(2)(a) kepada pemilik tanah untuk memulih tanah kepada keadaan asal.


4.        Klassik Tropika Development Sdn. Bhd. telah mengemukakan

surat rayuan terhadap notis di bawah Seksyen 27(2)(a), Akta Perancangan Bandar Dan Desa 1976 kepada pihak Majlis.

5.        Berhubung dengan aduan mengenai penebangan pokok, satu notis pentadbiran melalui
surat bertarikh 30.03.2011 daripada Majlis dikeluarkan kepada tuan tanah tersebut (sesalinan
surat dikepilkan bersama).

Sekian dimaklumkan.

"CEKAP, AKAUNTABILITI, TELUS"
"BERKHIDMAT UNTUK NEGARA"

Bahagian Perhubungan Awam
Jabatan Khidmat Pengurusan
Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang

MPPP orders developer to reconstruct demolished bungalow

MPPP orders developer to reconstruct demolished bungalow

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Thursday February 24, 2011

MPPP orders developer to reconstruct demolished bungalow

GEORGE TOWN: The developer responsible for demolishing a building on Lebuhraya Pykett here without permission from the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) has been ordered to restore the building at the original site.

“This will be a lesson that no one is above the law, and that all actions must go through the proper channels,” said State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

“The developer will be ordered to rebuild the building under Section 27 (3) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976,” he said.

In January, Klassik Tropika Development Sdn Bhd who was represented by architect Low Eng Hooi, was fined RM6,000 by a magistrate’s court after Low pleaded guilty to demolishing the building in July last year without council permission

The council, through the Deputy Public Prosecutor, has appealed for a heavier sentence. the offence is punishable under Section 26 (1) (b) with a fine of up to RM500,000 or a jail term of up to two years, or both, upon conviction.

Chow had said during a press conference on Jan 1, that the landowner prior to the demolition had put in an application on March 30, 2010, to the council’s One-Stop Centre to demolish the building.

However, before approval was given, the architect wrote a letter on July 26 to withdraw the application as the land had changed hands. The new landowner demolished the building and submitted an application to build 315 apartment units.

Rebuild ?? u must be mad !!

Thats what the developer is going to say haha.

The message that has to be put across to this people is that we mean business, the Penang Local council is no push over, money cannot buy MPPP.

MPPP under the guidance of DAP government practises CAT policies and all Local Council's in Malaysia shall learn from MPPP.

Bravo Penang LGE and team.





article in the Sun today .

conservation vs demolition

Holistic development needed for Penang
WEDNESDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2010 12:52

While some parties, including landowners and developers, were unhappy when George Town was finally made a Unesco World Heritage site in 2008, renowned architect Laurence Loh, a heritage conservationist, heaved a sigh of relief.

The inscription was the culmination of decades of hard work by many people, including Loh.

Now, even detractors are using the World Heritage site status as a selling point for their projects, some of which are nowhere near or within the heritage enclave.

“These are the very people who were cursing us saying the listing would bring prices down. Now they are the very people who are promoting it and eating humble pie,” said Loh.

The Edge Financial Daily caught up with Loh at the historical Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. Loh’s conservation work on the mansion earned the project the Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for the most excellent project in 2000.

Loh described the world heritage listing as the most successful “land re-evaluation exercise” in the history of Penang.

“If you think about it, which area has now been revalued so much that it will keep going up steadily for the next 60 years? No doubt, there are other areas where prices are dictated by market forces but this is heritage real estate,” Loh said.

According to valuation reports by several real estate agencies, from a mere RM200 per sq ft prior to the inscription, prices have gone up to RM600 per sq ft in the core areas while some owners are demanding more than RM800 per sq ft, said Loh.

“Rentals have also steadily gone up over the past two years,” Loh added.

Loh said before the inscription, properties would only fetch higher prices if they were fully renovated. The scenario has changed. People now want shophouses in their original state, he said.

“Buyers who used to say I will only pay you higher if it is fully renovated are now saying that if it is in the original condition, I will pay more.”

Other selling points are location, who the owner or architect was, and the historical and architectural significance of the site. Today, properties that used to be described as “rent control” and “prewar houses” are being touted as “heritage”.

Loh said other than value appreciation, the conferment of World Heritage site status also attracts the cultural traveller who would spend time in Penang, as opposed to the usual type of tourists.


Single entity


Loh in front of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. There are now so many sites under threat but nobody is talking about it, he says.


Loh in front of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. There are now so many sites under threat but nobody is talking about it, he says.


He also said the listing has set Penang apart from the rest of Malaysia. The challenge now is to ensure that development is holistic in nature, and zonal strength is turned into a collective and regional strength.


“Don’t only conserve what’s within the heritage site and ignore historical settings outside the enclave. We should think further ahead,” Loh stressed.


He was referring to huge development projects located next to heritage buildings outside the core and buffer zones where height restrictions or other conditions set by Unesco do not apply.


Loh’s view is that both heritage and development could be done in harmony by finding a different paradigm which would then add value to the entire state.


Penang would lose its identity if it started looking like the Klang Valley, he said.


“We now have this distinct advantage, because we are different. What new buildings can an architect bring to Penang that we cannot find in KL or Singapore? That is the challenge I would throw at developers,” he said.


He suggested that George Town, Bayan Baru, Butterworth and Balik Pulau should be looked at as one city just like Greater London, Hongkong and Kowloon.


“You have to think like that and we have to be holistic as a single entity... Everyone has been myopic and they have been looking at just this site,” Loh added.


He said it would be interesting to see how much emphasis is put into the local plan for the rest of the state as a holistic heritage entity.


“The previous state government had announced that while everything inside the city had to abide by the heritage guidelines, others did not have to do so. Everything which is outside [the city] has also to be looked into and that shift must come very quickly or we will have another battle again. There are now so many sites under threat but nobody is talking about it,” Loh said.


He cited the example of a house along Pykett Avenue which was demolished recently. The house on a 3.38-acre site belonged to the late Khaw Bian Cheng. Khaw, who had served as the governor of Satun and Yala in Thailand and was the last quasi governor living in Penang, was the centre of Thai influence in the state.



According to Loh, the house was intact but a family battle led to it being sold to a developer who demolished it without a whimper from anyone. He added that plans were also afoot to develop the Tenby School site along Jalan Kelawai which was listed.


“Nobody said anything and these are now the big battles we have to fight,” he added.


Penang local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) was still relying on a list of Class 1 and Class 2 heritage buildings which had been compiled even before the Unesco listing.


“I believe when the lists were done, even the owners were not consulted and some of those whose property has been listed as Class 2, which allows for development around the building, are asking for their properties to be reassessed.”


Chow pointed out that even the National Heritage Act stipulated that once a building is classified as heritage, the owner can serve a purchase order on the authorities who had classified the building. If the owner cannot do anything due to the classification, he can demand that the authorities buy the property.


On the Pykett Avenue house referred to by Loh, Chow said the house was not even listed and the only offence committed by the owner was to demolish it without approval from the council.


Chow said plans had been submitted by a developer to build condominiums at the Tenby International School site where one of the buildings was a Class 2 building.


“This will allow the developer to build around the classified building but plans for the project have yet to be approved,” he added.



Development grants

Loh acknowledged that there were efforts by many landlords who see that properties can be developed without having to be demolished.


Some of these efforts are being helped along by grants given out by Khazanah Nasional Sdn Bhd for conservation and restoration works. The grants are managed by Think City Sdn Bhd, of which Loh is also a director.


Think City is a special project vehicle (SPV) established by Khazanah as a 100% subsidiary to implement and manage the George Town Grants Programme (GTGP) with a RM20 million outlay. It has also been entrusted to help in the creation of a Special Area Plan and a heritage management plan for the George Town World Heritage Site.


The GTGP is aimed at creating a culturally vibrant and sustainable city. During the first round of approvals in April this year, Think City gave out 18 grants worth RM1.85 million for 11 physical conservation projects and seven grants for documentation projects related to physical conservation and urban rejuvenation within the George Town Heritage Site.


Of these first round projects, the Carpenters Guild or Lo Pun Hong project has been completed.


The second round of approvals in August saw 10 grants worth RM876,328 being given out, of which six were for physical conservation projects and four were for cultural mapping projects related to physical conservation and urban rejuvenation.


Among the other projects which have also been allocated grants are the restoration of Seven Terraces at Stewart Lane by Baiduri Sdn Bhd (about RM178,000); the publication of a biographical dictionary of Penang mercantile personalities (RM122,000); and documentational work on the Sun Yat Sen Heritage Trail by the Penang Heritage Trust (RM100,000).


“So now, we are in fact spreading the value to everybody, not only people who have money to do new buildings; even those with old buildings can benefit. I don’t care where the money comes from, as long as it goes to heritage,” said Loh, obviously referring to the RM20 million entrusted to  Think City from Khazanah Nasional to be distributed .


The subject of funding has been a sore point with the state government which has been hitting out at the federal government for not directly allocating the funds to the state as it did for Malacca, which is jointly listed with Penang. The Malacca state government was allocated RM30 million for its heritage con servation projects.


“This is the first agency worldwide that is giving out grants, not loans, towards heritage conservation to individuals, which I have been advocating for many years,” he said.


Loh said the unique financing system was the only way to kickstart restoration works which are aiding heritage.


“No other country is giving out such grants to individuals using a very transparent system,” he added.



A passion for conservation

ASSOCIATE Professor Laurence Loh, an architect by profession, has spent the past 26 years protecting, conserving, managing and sustaining the cultural heritage of Malaysia.


Trained at the Architectural Association in London, he runs the architectural practices of Laurence Loh Akitek and Arkitek LLA Sdn Bhd. His expertise and contributions in built heritage have been acknowledged nationally and regionally.


Loh is best known for the restoration of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Penang that won the ‘Most Excellent Project’ at the inaugural Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2000.


This was followed by the Unesco Heritage Award of Merit for the restoration of the Cheng Hoon Teng temple in Malacca.


In 2008, his restoration of Stadium Merdeka won the Unesco Award of Excellence, whilst Suffolk House in Penang, the only surviving Anglo-Indian Georgian mansion in Southeast Asia, was accorded the Unesco Award of Distinction. His Lunas Rubber Smokehouse project has been shortlisted for the 2010 Aga Khan Awards.


Loh is also the deputy president of Badan Warisan Malaysia, a trust that provides advisory services and skills training within the whole spectrum of cultural heritage conservation.


He is presently a director of Think City Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Khazanah National Bhd which manages a grants programme for the World Heritage Site of George Town, and the Asian Academy for Cultural Heritage Management.


In parallel with his professional career path, Loh also devotes his time to education.


He currently teaches at the University of Hong Kong and at the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property in Rome.



This article appeared on the Penang Pulse page,The Edge Financial Daily, October 11, 2010.

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pykett more mega development

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Wesley Church mulling over developer proposals
GEORGE TOWN: The Wesley Methodist Church, which owns the 4-acre site where the Pykett Methodist Boys’ School sits along Burma Road, is considering several proposals from local and Kuala Lumpur-based property developers that are keen to buy the land at RM300 per sq ft.

StarBiz learnt that a major player in the high-end residential property market has proposed to build a new Pykett Methodist School at the site, including a car park for the school, together with condominiums and retail lots.

Another well-known developer on the island has proposed to build a new Pykett Methodist School at a different site owned by the developer.

“The developer will also build some properties for the Methodist Church so that it can generate long-term revenue. In return, the developer gets to develop certain portions of the land to offset the construction cost of the school and other properties for the land owner. The cost of the school and car park will be used to offset the selling price of the land,” the sources said.

Another developer, which has made a bid to purchase the land, said the price of RM300 per sq ft was on the high side.

“Land in the area is priced around RM200 to RM250 per sq ft. At present, the site is gazetted as institutional land and needs to be converted for other usage. The commercial enhancement value charge, for example, is about 50% of the incremental value of the land, based on the difference between the selling price when it was first valued and what it is worth today. The other factor that needs to be considered is that the developer can apply to build up to 30 units per acre on this site,” the developer said.

When contacted, an Eastern & Oriental Bhd spokesman said that the group had not bid for the land.

Due to the shortage of land on the island, the area around Pykett Methodist Boys’ School has become a popular site for new residential projects.

For example, Mah Sing Group Bhd will be launching Icon Residence early next year, which is located at the crossroads of Burmah Road and Anson Road – a stone’s throw from Pykett Methodist Boys’ School. The condominium project has an estimated gross sales value of over RM200mil.

By The Star (by David

Appeal deadline is today

MPPP promise us that action will be taken against the developer. as a matter of PUBLIC INTEREST as the prices of land increases, the small fines do not work as a deterrent.

We need help from NGO’s and the people of Penang, the last date of filing the appeal to the RM6k fine is MONDAY 31/1/11. What can you do, call

YDP of MPPP 0124849403, 042592111
YB CHOW 042619888

MPPP Legal Counsel Shamiah 0174001183, 042592296

The appeal has to be filed by the DPP a Federal body which is always busy, now can I stress the urgency !!

Attorney General's Chambers
Head of Appellate And Trial Division
Dato' Kamaludin bin Md. Said
03-88722027 
kamaludin@agc.gov.my
 
Personal Assistant
Marsila binti Abdul Samad
03-88722027 
marsila@agc.gov.my
 
Deputy Head of Appellate And Trial Division
Wong Chiang Kiat
03-88722526 
ckwong@agc.gov.my
 
Personal Assistant
Noorhayati binti Hashim
03-88722526 
noor_hayati@agc.gov.my 

fine for illegal demolition not a deterrent

 

Update: 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, folks, what is there to stop developers from tearing down buildings like these? The fine is hardly a deterrent as it will very likely be factored into the cost of projects, which may have GDVs running into millions, if not billions of ringgit.

Unless… the MPPP appeals to the High Court and if the MPPP freezes future development of the property. After the demolition in July 2010, the new landowner submitted an application to MPSP in October 2010 to build 315 apartments in four towers. State exco member for Local Government Chow Kon Yeow reportedly said the application has since been frozen.

Keep an eye on Pykett Avenue.


Ong Eu Soon
18 January 2011 at 7.12pm · Reply
RM6000 for heritage conservation, what a joke! No wonder this nation go into the drain.

peter wong
18 January 2011 at 11.04pm · Reply
pursuant to s27 Town &Country Planning Act, local council can direct the landowner to reinstate the building.

YB Chow do u have ***** or are another Koh Tsu Koon haha

nkkhoo
19 January 2011 at 1.46am · Reply
What is big deal to pay another RM6000 for refusing to reinstate the building.

nkkhoo
18 January 2011 at 7.56pm · Reply
There is another case in KL, developer demolished the historic bungalow and paid the peanut fine.

The heritage preservation law should be amended to confiscate the land.

Andrew I
18 January 2011 at 8.09pm · Reply
“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.”

You’re not supposed to have such a long memory, Anil. RM6000? If only prices of goods and services could come down as much as this, we’d all be rich.

peter wong
18 January 2011 at 11.01pm · Reply
i thought Metropole fined 5k.

eh they had to rebuild, at least the facade.

Anil
18 January 2011 at 11.36pm · Reply
Ref for the RM50k can be found here:

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/2898

peterwong
19 January 2011 at 5.14am · Reply
Very interesting article.

We have the legislation in place now.

We are a UNESCO Heritage city.

We have DAP as the state government.

CM Lim you have to power now to set it straight for all the developers do not fool with Penang. Please make a difference and do not be bought by them.RULE OF LAW.

Please MPPP to take action and we want a deterrent sentence, we fought and won the PGCC battle, they are building landed properties there now.

THIS IS A ELECTION YEAR

wira
18 January 2011 at 8.27pm · Reply
There is hope yet for the developer and his frozen application.
Bring back BN and all his transgressions can be exonerated.

peter wong
18 January 2011 at 10.59pm · Reply
no way frozen , DAP have no ***** la, like Our old CM haha, developer bought land at 300/ sq ft and just let it seat there.

if this is true, I better sell my Mah Sing shares, the CEO needs to see a shrink haha

kingkong
20 January 2011 at 4.31pm · Reply
Peter

… If U are a shareholder by all means act and bring out the DESTRUCTION of heritage buildings during Mah Sing’s AGM

Peter wong
20 January 2011 at 10.13pm · Reply
too late mate, made a profit and sold my shares already.

Tan sri Leong is not going to care, read their vision and mission statement making money is supreme haha.

Bring back BN 1Malaysia will do good for Penang..

How about a casino license in Pulau Jerjak !!

peterwong
18 January 2011 at 10.29pm · Reply
I will be introducing this to all my developer clients, demolish even the heritage buildings and pay a small fine.

Penang is the way to go.

Those stupid developers like E&O and others who follow guidelines, idiots you are.

Knock it down and thats the way to go

Dr B Nawawi
18 January 2011 at 11.12pm · Reply
anil

please note that what was reported in The Star, there was no mention of an inpection by MPPP, I was at the hearing and MPPP prosector did not bring this up.This is motive, knock it down before inspection, sekali ask us to preserve building how , habis la.

Penang now some more UNESCO….

she also did not ask for a deterrent sentence. MPPP is inviting developers to demolish buildings – so that (MPPP) can collect development charges, which had been recently increased(?)

same same la BN or DAP, for developers mayb BN better because no CAT policy.

ya la lets have Dr Teng back la easier to move things.

nkkhoo
19 January 2011 at 1.58am · Reply
Melaka CM, Mohd Ali Rustam personally went to the field when a shophouse in the heritage zone was demolished illegally by a Singaporean and warned he will freeze the land or may be buy back the land for public purpose.

LGE is hiding in his air-cond office all the time and issues tons of media presses to blame all problems to previous government.

peterwong
19 January 2011 at 11.10am · Reply
CM Lim

WHat you need to do is sort out the mess in town, which is listed as Heritage and which is not. SO many in the fringe areas that need attention.

Freeze PLANNING PERMISSION the only way to go, fines will not be effective because the developer just price in la costs to the ultimate purchaser. Your people.

We welcome you KL developers but dont take advantage of Penang’s generosity.

Penangite
19 January 2011 at 12.21am · Reply
It’s only fair that Mah Sing build back the bungalow at the SAME location.

moo_t
19 January 2011 at 12.47am · Reply
This precedent just show the ultimate One Malaysia goals : it is cheaper to break the law than follow it.

Bare in mind that, this precedent are not just plain bad governing, but also bad for economy! Under Pareto condition, if a society allow selfish business activity continue, it will increase the market transaction cost and eventually everyone will loss.

SamG
19 January 2011 at 10.32am · Reply
The fine was imposed by the Courts (read BN Courts)not MPPP. So MPPP has been asked to appeal.
How can the State Govt be held negligent when such matters are under the jurisdication of MPPP?
You guys have been seeing too much of intereference from BN run Govt so you assume CM LGE can put his fingers anyway in Penang and control the outcome.
It does not work like that in Govt unless its BN run

nkkhoo
19 January 2011 at 12.55pm · Reply
Why the state government interfered MPPP’s decision making on sPICE ? Who is authorized to allocate fund from MPPP for sPICE?

Why LGE instructed MPPP to appeal if that is not his business?

Can you explain your new logic?

peterwong
19 January 2011 at 5.50pm · Reply
S27 of the Town & Country Planning Act empowers the local council to take action against the landowner.

google it people of penang

KhawSimBee Resident
19 January 2011 at 11.12am · Reply
I have been following Mah SIng SHares, why they have not informed BURSA of this charge by MPPP ??

SC should look into this.

C H U N
19 January 2011 at 11.18am · Reply
Carine will GIVE 110 pages and show them what is the Rule of Law.

This case is of Public Interest.

We are concern as all the heritage or non heritage buildings will not be safe.

6000 fine for a GDV 380,000,000 project is definitely not a deterrent.Any fine for developers is not a deterrent.

LGE a deterrent will be to freeze planning permission for 10 years. I am sure, no other developers will dare to flaunt the law ever again.

kee
19 January 2011 at 11.58am · Reply
SamG, you are the sensible one here, the rest are like monyet kena belacan… just jump is what they are good at, in particular, that khoo guy !!!

SunnyOoi
19 January 2011 at 1.10pm · Reply
Becareful of what you say about Khoo. Afterall, he speaks for public fund. Whatever that means.

kee
19 January 2011 at 12.04pm · Reply
Why are the developers so daring? Because they have been under BN for too long, everything can be “kau tim”.

So, vote for BN, all can be kau-kau tim tim !!!

nkkhoo
20 January 2011 at 12.43am · Reply
FYI, Melaka is under BN.

No one dare to dismantle old buildings again after Mohd Ali Rustam warned he will not hesitate to acquire the land for the public facility like building a new museum.

LGE is acting like KTK with inaction against the landlord and adopting pro-developer policy.

More developers will follow Mah Sin to tear down whatever heritage buildings in Georgetown because LGE is a dumb duck CM, nothing to do his is PR or BN chief minister.

kingkong
20 January 2011 at 4.35pm · Reply
Melaka has bankroll of BN money. Penang has none and BN has been throwing oney on leaning Pisa of Monkey Garden. Can you see the difference?

nkkhoo
21 January 2011 at 11.30am · Reply
KTK was BN CM, and still he was indecisive … that kind of character is something to do with the leadership quality.

LGE pro-developer attitude is an open secret, (his administration) betrayed Kampung Buah Pala’s residents in the past.

Acquire the land for public purpose is absolutely legal. I believe those common Penangites with no vested interest in property market will support this extraordinary move to teach errant developer a bitten lesson.

LGE can fork out 50 million for sPICE, why he cannot do the same for acquiring this land?

CPL
19 January 2011 at 12.45pm · Reply
Thanks SamG. At times we tend to hentam without thinking first

If you read Star Metro North on 17 Jan

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/1/17/north/7692469&sec=north

I am looking forward to see all the trees grow and make Carnavon Street more shady. But this green project costs RM 101,604 with RM 75,144 from Khazanah’s subsidiary Think City which is part of the RM 20mil from federal government to conserve and revitalise Georgetown in line with its heritage status. According to the report, the RM 75,144 was for the purchase of 60 plants or RM 1,252.40 per plant. I hope this is not true that the trees cost so much.

wira
19 January 2011 at 12.57pm · Reply
Apparently many who commented here did not know that building is outside both the core and buffer zones of the UNESCO heritage site.
It is also not a gazetted heritage building.

The developer destroyed an old building while investigation by MPPP was still on going.
Sadly, the small fine of RM6000 was probably what a magistrate could legally impose today.

So no one should fault the state government or MPPP for the arrogance of the developer as long as the project remains frozen by the authorities.
That is the best they can do under the present circumstance if we want to follow the rule of law.

Anil
19 January 2011 at 4.04pm · Reply
One report said the maximum fine under the law is RM500,000 or two years jail or both.

Wira
19 January 2011 at 4.26pm · Reply
I don’t think a magistrate has the authority to impose such a mammoth fine.

peterwong
19 January 2011 at 5.44pm · Reply
MPPP

Charged them in the wrong court, boo boo galore la, wonder why ??

Under the TCPA max fine 500k and 2 years imprisonment for landowner proceeding with works without planning permission from MPPP.

I stand corrected but I think its section 27, google it.

wira
19 January 2011 at 6.57pm · Reply
MPPP cannot initiate legal proceedings in court.

According to our federal constitution, all legal proceedings of the government (regardless of which) in this country must be undertaken by the AG office.

Please don’t blame MPPP.
I believe they are also frustrated.

Blame Putra Jaya.

nkkhoo
20 January 2011 at 12.47am · Reply
There is another option for state government, acquire the land for public purpose like building a library, a museum, etc. to teach errant developer a hard lesson.

wira
20 January 2011 at 5.09pm · Reply
Acquisition means the state/MPPP must pay to buy the said property from the owner.
The law does not provide for forced acquisition without compensation.

Why reward the belligerent owner with such a relief?
Better freeze approval to develop the land as long as PR is in power.
That is the best punishment.

nkkhoo
21 January 2011 at 11.34am · Reply
Acquisition is alike killing a chicken to scare off other wild monkeys.

No developer wish to lose their land in exchange of market price. They will make 10 times more if the land is developed for housing or business project.

tunglang
19 January 2011 at 3.45pm · Reply
The problem with conservation of heritage buildings in Penang is the classification of buildings and zoning. The Penang Core and Buffer Heritage zones give total protection to classified heritage buildings within the zones. But those in the fringe or even far out from the zones are not protected. Unless it is specifically assigned as a heritage like the P. Ramlee’s House in Jalan P. Ramee which is outside the zones.

Owners of such buildings, heritage or looked like heritage are in a dilemma when it comes to selling them to buyers or developers. Who will guarantee no demolition? At present there is no concrete long term policies or financial incentives for those owning such buildings (within or outside the Core or Buffer Zones) with regards to conservation matters or ownership priorities (local ownership or foreign).

It still looks like the wanton annihilation of the American Indian Reservation during the Wild Wild West. Whoever has the most ‘silver bullets’ (financial clouts) has his cowboy way – shoot (demolish) then talk (kau tim)!

MPPP is the lame Sheriff riding around on a donkey looking for quick draw Sundance Kid from KL!

ES Saw
20 January 2011 at 12.00pm · Reply
Which magistrate decided on this low penalty and on what grounds. There is a strong need for him/her to justify such a decision. It is time our judiciary measure up to the experctations of the people. What does the justice dept. say about such a ruling?

peterwong
27 January 2011 at 8.27am · Reply
Anil

Last night the residence of Pykett, Westland and Khaw Sim Bee area had a dialogue with the state government , lead by Yb CHOW and MPPPs’ personal.

They were kind enough to meet us the rakyat and share what is happening with the abovementioned property.

The stand is clear, the small fine is going to send the wrong message to all developers in town, especially now that we are a UNESCO Heritage city.The developers will demolish buildings without approval and just pay fine. Project reported to be 380 Million. 6k is kacang putih la

MPPP promise us that action will be taken against the developer. as a matter of PUBLIC INTEREST as the prices of land increases, the small fines do not work as a deterrent.

We need help from NGO’s and the people of Penang, the last date of filing the appeal to the RM6k fine is MONDAY 31/1/11. What can you do, call

YDP of MPPP 0124849403, 042592111
YB CHOW
MPPP Legal Counsel Shamiah 0174001183, 042592296

Remind them of the deadline.