THE Penang assembly today passed a bill to set up the Penang State Park (Botanic) Corporation.

The new enactment will pave the way for the creation of a state park. 

Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP-Datuk Keramat), who proposed the bill, said the enactment would cover the Penang Botanic Gardens – the oldest botanic gardens in Malaysia founded in 1884.

It would also cover other sites that could be identified as state parks, the state exco said.

Jagdeep said the setting up of the corporation was also the first step towards making the Botanic Gardens in Penang a Unesco heritage site.

“The Singapore Botanic Garden is already recognised as a Unesco site. The Penang Botanic Gardens also aspire to achieve this recognition.

“Today, the first step in realising this dream is through the setting up of the Penang State Park (Botanic) Corporation,” he said in the assembly sitting this afternoon.

The corporation will make provisions for handling, controlling, preserving, conserving, researching plants, flora and fauna, and other matters related to the Penang State Park (Botany).

The corporation will be chaired by the chief minister. The deputy chairman will be appointed by the state authority.

Its three ex-officio members will be the state secretary, state legal adviser and state financial officer.

A general manager, who will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the corporation as the chief executive officer, will be appointed with the approval of the state authority.

Earlier during the debate on the bill, Wong Hon Wai (DAP-Air Itam) voiced support for the bill, saying that previously there was no political will to do more for the Penang Botanic Gardens except for maintaining their trees.

Other backbenchers also spoke in support of the bill, Cheah Kah Peng (PKR-Kebun Bunga) raised concerns that the clauses in the enactment would give the corporation too much power. 

Muhamad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong) also took issue with the corporation general manager being responsible to the chairman.

“Why is the GM only answerable to the chairman? The GM should be answerable to the whole board. This will allow the two to bulldoze decisions,” he said.

Jagdeep then said Penang would move further forward with the corporation to maximise the benefits of the state park.

“Please don’t be worried about the safety of the Botanic Gardens. 

“Steps will be taken to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of the biodiversity in the state park are being preserved in their original and natural state.

“But I agree with Wong that entry into the park itself should remain free,” he said.

The state assembly also passed the Supply Enactment 2018, which allows RM1.21 billion from the state consolidated fund to be used by the state government next year. – November 14, 2017.