14 out of 30 Penang projects rejected by PLANMalaysia
NEARLY half of the development projects proposed by the Penang government have been rejected by the Town and
Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia).
Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar today said PLANMalaysia Penang had rejected 14 out of 30 development projects that the state submitted for approval.
He said the projects were rejected because they failed to comply with the Guidelines on Highland Development set by PLANMalaysia.
However, the state government had been given some leeway in the guidelines, given the state’s terrain, which is small and hilly.
Penang had been using its own Safety Guidelines for Hillside Development Project since 2012.
“The 30 applications for development projects between 2008 and this year have and will result in slope and density changes in Penang.
“The state government approved some of the projects as it has the right to do so,” he said in reply to Datuk Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Renggam).
Liang had asked the ministry to state the number of hill development applications that had been approved in Penang.
The minister emphasised that in 2009, PLANMalaysia had outlined a guideline for hill and highland development for all states.
Noh said every planned development must be opened for public feedback.
“According to the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, public exhibitions and hearings must be done within 21 days.
“It means that within the 21 days, neighbouring communities can lodge protests. If protests are made, the local authorities will have to consider whether to reject or accept it,” he said.
Earlier, MCA expressed concern over the state government’s land sales and transactions worth RM37 billion since 2008.
MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said the unrestrained sale of state land would not only result in it becoming increasingly scarce, but could also result in floods.