IT is unbecoming of Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to sneer at civil rights groups, saying, “if NGOs like those in Penang were in Hong Kong, asking for development to be stopped over a landslide, Hong Kong would not be as developed as it is today”.

It is rather insulting for someone who does not have roots in Penang to say this to Penangites.

Firstly, why must Penang follow the model of Hong Kong? Is there no other better way of “developing” Penang?

Comparing the hills in Hong Kong to those in Penang is like comparing jambu batu (guavas) to tomatoes.

The Hong Kong hills are like the mountains of Shimla in India. They are solid rock and buildings can stand without much issue on very steep slopes.

The hills in Penang are not made of the same stuff. Does he not know this?

For whom is Penang being really “developed”, if not for a few rich developers to make money in the island?

Why must more and more people be brought into Penang Island if not for some people to make money at the expense of the long living residents of Penang?

The peace and quiet that people have enjoyed for decades is being destroyed by the development which is a nuisance to them.

An example is “robbing” of a part of a developed and occupied residential zone of Desa Jelita, Permatang Damar Laut, Batu Maung and re-zoning it as “industrial” so as to legalise some illegal industries that began operating in the shophouses in the back lane of occupied residences.

What sort of “development” is this for improving the quality of life for Penangites?

So, the state can throw out the window any provisions of the law that it chooses to in order to satisfy the needs of business people at the expense of non-business people.

In this case, the Town and Country Planning Act prohibits industries from operating in residential zones. Instead of removing the illegal industries, the state bent backwards (in 2012) to legalise them in a residential zone simply by re-zoning the affected premises to “industrial”.

This has set a precedent. Now anyone can rent a house or shophouse in any residential zone in Penang and start a factory.

If the residents complain, the state will simply re-zone those premises as “industrial” and thus legalise the illegal industries. – November 17, 2018.

* Ravinder Singh reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.