By Anil Netto,
You just have to shake your head in disbelief when you hear former Penang CM Koh Tsu Koon blaming the financial crisis in the 1990s, 9-11 and Sars for the setbacks suffered by Pulau Jerejak Resort.
Pathetic. In the first place, the place should never have been given to an Uda-majority joint-venture firm to manage.
Second, the 362-ha Pulau Jerejak should have been turned into a nature reserve for Penangites, already starved of green lungs on the island for rest and recreation. Do you know that the 405-ha Stanley Park (only slightly larger than Pulau Jerejak) next to Vancouver City draws 8 million visitors a year? (Click image above to expand.)
Vancouver residents are justifiably proud of their scenic park just minutes from the city centre. Read more about Stanley Park on Wikipedia here.
So I would support attempts by the Penang state government to return the island to the state’s control.
But not if it is going to be turned over to developers to build more expensive sea-front bungalows for the rich.
Stanley Park in Vancouver City - Image courtesy of Wikipedia
Second, the 362-ha Pulau Jerejak should have been turned into a nature reserve for Penangites, already starved of green lungs on the island for rest and recreation. Do you know that the 405-ha Stanley Park (only slightly larger than Pulau Jerejak) next to Vancouver City draws 8 million visitors a year? (Click image above to expand.)
Vancouver residents are justifiably proud of their scenic park just minutes from the city centre. Read more about Stanley Park on Wikipedia here.
So I would support attempts by the Penang state government to return the island to the state’s control.
But not if it is going to be turned over to developers to build more expensive sea-front bungalows for the rich.
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