Protected hills being cleared
Land clearing evident in areas near Bt Jambul and Paya Terubong
GEORGE TOWN: Land clearing seems to be taking place on the hills near Bukit Jambul and Paya Terubong.
Penang Property Talk, a website advertising upcoming projects, claimed that the hill near Lintang Bukit Jambul is being cleared for a high-end property construction.
Dr Kam Suan Pheng, a representative of Penang Forum, an NGO, said 56 development projects have been approved on legally protected hills above 250ft or 25% slope gradient across the state.
“Residential areas and commercial buildings must not be categorised as special projects. Special projects must be limited, restricted and only be done if public interest is involved,” she said.
However, state Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the hill near Paya Terubong was being cleared for road construction under the Penang Island Link (PIL) project. The hill clearing, regarded as an environmental disaster by NGOs and residents, is taking place despite an assurance by SRS Consortium, the delivery partner for the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), that the construction would not impact the environment as no “deep cuts and embankments” would be done.
The PIL road construction, which is part of the PTMP, will be carried out in two phases to connect Bayan Lepas to Bagan Jermal through Relau and Paya Terubong as a way to ease traffic congestion on the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.
To fund the RM27bil PTMP, the state government planned to reclaim 4,100 acres (1,660 hectares) in Permatang Damar Laut to make three islands, a project now awaiting the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment report.
Muhammad Idzham Khairuddin, 56, a former project manager, expressed shock that the road construction had already started when the main financial module, the reclamation, had yet to be approved.
“From what I understand, the PIL road is part of the PTMP. The PTMP is funded by the three-island reclamation and the DEIA report will only be completed in September.
“How can they start the construction of PIL when the financial module of the project has yet to be approved?
“If approval is not given, does that mean the project will be abandoned?” he asked.
A resident in Paya Terubong said the state government must let the people know of any major project in an area.
“I believe the state government should inform us if there are any major projects going on so that we will not be left in the dark. Otherwise, if any disaster occurs, we are the ones who will have to endure it,” he said. — Bernama