NGOs won’t stop rallying against hillslope projects
GEORGE TOWN: Environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have vowed to continue staging protests against the Penang government if it pushes ahead with hillslope developments and mega infrastructure projects in the state.
They reminded Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s administration about former chief minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu’s “fall from grace” in the 1990 general election when he expressed his intention to push for the development of Penang Hill.
Penang Forum committee member Khoo Salma Nasution said they would never agree to the Pan Island Link Highway and Penang Transport Master Plan projects.
She said they strongly opposed Penang’s hillslope development projects, particularly after the recent Bukit Kukus landslide, which claimed nine lives.
“We will oppose the construction of two hotels on the peak of Penang Hill as announced by Chow yesterday. That is a no-no for us. Who is behind the hotel projects? We are not happy (about this).
“Last year, more than 200 landslides were reported in the state. Isn’t this a sign that enough is enough? Just remember that if we continue to disturb the hills, they will (take revenge on us) in the future,” she said during a protest outside the state legislative assembly yesterday.
More than 30 representatives from NGOs joined the protest.
They held banners, which read “Landslides Happening all over Penang — Natural or Man-made”, “PIL + Climate Change = Disaster” and “Where is our CAT? We want it back”.
“CAT” refers to the state government’s motto of competency, accountability and transparency. The NGOs said CAT now referred to complacency, arrogance and translucency.
On Thursday, Chow revealed plans to build two hotels on the peak of Penang Hill, one behind the Convalescent Bungalow and another on the hillslope along the Coolie Lane.
He said the proposed hotel behind the Convalescent Bungalow was in the design stage and vowed that it would not be higher than what was set out in the Penang Hill Special Area Plan, while the other hotel was in the planning stage.
Khoo Salma asked if there was a need to build hotels on Penang Hill.
She said the state government should not use false figures to justify development projects in the Penang structure plan.
“The state claimed that the population will increase to 2.45 million in 2030. But that claim is not (corroborated) by the Department of Statistics.”
She said the mandate given by Penangites to the DAP-led administration in the 14th General Election was “no licence” for the state government to do whatever it wanted.
“We just wanted to vote Barisan Nasional out of power. But it is not an (endorsement) of hillslope development and mega infrastructure projects (in the state).
“All we want is the freedom to voice out to help the state government resolve its problems, but it would rather turn to the developers.”
Preservation of National Heritage national exco member Pam Ooi said she joined the protest because she was saddened by the state Penang was in.
“Penang is being destroyed and we must stop this. The young people will never know how beautiful Penang used to be.”