Many parts of Penang could soon see a three- to five-fold
increase in density – without adequate infrastructure to support it,
warns Penang Forum representative Dr Lim Mah Hui. This could have a
disastrous impact on the quality of life.
These high-density guideline will reportedly affect “only” 109ha. (That’s 270 acres of our tiny island, mind you.) Already 14 projects have been approved in places like Macalister Road, Lorong Perak, Bukit Gambir, Lembah Permai, Jalan Paya Terubong and Pantai Jerejak.
It is not just 109ha that will be affected. Think of the cumulative traffic congestion in all the surrounding areas and approach roads. Remember, all this is being approved and carried out as policy – even before the Penang Transport Masterplan has been made public and even before consultation for ‘Penang Paradigm’ (which increasingly looks like a waste of time) can take place later this week. And there has been very little open consultation with the public over the “fine-tuning” of high-density guidelines.
Why are more and more developers so keen on building so-called small office/home office (Soho) units? Well, they offer the potential of even higher density – up to five times higher!
Before long, as we draw closer to gridlock, Penang will be transformed into a giant car park, with concrete and tarmac wiping out greenery and displacing trees.
Ironically, this comes even as the state government is touting Penang’s green credentials and liveability to overseas investors and target groups.
This is Mah Hui’s speech at the full council meeting of the MPPP today:
These high-density guideline will reportedly affect “only” 109ha. (That’s 270 acres of our tiny island, mind you.) Already 14 projects have been approved in places like Macalister Road, Lorong Perak, Bukit Gambir, Lembah Permai, Jalan Paya Terubong and Pantai Jerejak.
It is not just 109ha that will be affected. Think of the cumulative traffic congestion in all the surrounding areas and approach roads. Remember, all this is being approved and carried out as policy – even before the Penang Transport Masterplan has been made public and even before consultation for ‘Penang Paradigm’ (which increasingly looks like a waste of time) can take place later this week. And there has been very little open consultation with the public over the “fine-tuning” of high-density guidelines.
Why are more and more developers so keen on building so-called small office/home office (Soho) units? Well, they offer the potential of even higher density – up to five times higher!
Before long, as we draw closer to gridlock, Penang will be transformed into a giant car park, with concrete and tarmac wiping out greenery and displacing trees.
Ironically, this comes even as the state government is touting Penang’s green credentials and liveability to overseas investors and target groups.
This is Mah Hui’s speech at the full council meeting of the MPPP today:
I would like to raise two urgent issues – the guidelines for 87 units per acre and for small office/home office (Soho) – that require public consultation under the policy of Competence, Accountability and Transparency (CAT). These two issues will significantly have an impact on the lives of residents in Penang because of the three-fold increase in density (from 30 units/acre to 87 units/acre) for the first set of guidelines and a possible five-fold (156 units/acre) increase under the guidelines for Soho – compared to the (aborted) Penang Global City Centre project of 37 units/acre.See his full address here.
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