As long as the Penang state government continues in their self-imposed inertia in implementing the Penang Island Local Plan (which has been on hold since 2008), there will be no end to the incessant debate as to whether it is climatic change and/or overdevelopment that causes flooding in Penang.
Lame denials by the state government or finger pointing do nothing for the prestige of this island.
This is what happened this morning in Relau, Penang, after a short downpour.
When the state government waffles around dishing out excuses and hides behind masks, citizens will never be happy with an elected government that refrains from enforcing the local plan without which there can be no clear guidelines and specifications for development. In other words, without implementing the Penang Island Local Plan, it has been a free-for-all for developers can enjoy and exploit the freedom and benefit of building their projects at their whims and fancies, including at environmentally sensitive locations. No one would know. And, it would be very difficult to take action.
It is incredulous that against this backdrop, Chow Kon Yeow can say the state government is working on completing the state drainage and irrigation masterplan to better tackle the flood issue. But what about the Local Plan that has greater and far reaching consequences for the betterment of the state?
Is that the reason why the state government is so unwilling and nonchalant about implementing the Penang Island Local Plan and enforcing integrated development?
If this continues, Penangites will continue to pay the price of the state government’s nonchalance and blatant disregard of Penangites’ welfare.
So, ubah lah – development ala LGE or a people-centric development with maximum accountability.
By Datuk Huan Cheng Guan
Chairman
Persatuan Anak Jati Pulau Pinang
(Penang People's Association)
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