CIVIL society groups issued a warning to the Penang government that it could suffer the same fate as the previous BN state administrations if it did not pay attention to the unhappiness over the major development projects on the island.

In 1990 and in 2008, Penang voters kicked out the BN state governments after sustained campaigns to stop major development projects in the state. The chief minister was voted out in 1990 and then the whole BN administration in 2008.

As anger brewed, prominent civil society groups spearheaded campaigns opposing the developments which influenced voters.

Now, with the 14th general election looming, Penang civil society has warned that this may happen again following Saturday’s landslide in Tanjung Bungah which claimed the lives of nine construction workers with two others still listed as missing.

Revival of Save Penang Hill spirit

Sahabat Alam Malaysia deputy president Mohideen Abdul Kader Mohideen said the hills must be left alone, as what civil society groups have been saying all these years.

He said the problem lies with the state authorities and the councils responsible for preserving natural resources but not listening to issues that had been raised for almost 30 years. 

He said ideas and concerns articulated by civil society groups and citizens were not considered in decision-making by the state administration.

“They should not be arrogant, as if they know best,” he said.

Mohideen said the civil society groups will have to go down to the ground again to explain the implications of such projects to people’s safety and quality of live. 

“We may have to do what we did for the Penang Hill project years ago. If it could happen in the 1990s, it can happen again.”

Mohideen was referring to the civil society postcard campaign that stopped a major development of hotels, serviced apartments and cable cars on Penang Hill that was mooted in 1989. 

The postcard campaign involving the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Penang Hill residents gathered huge support from the public to save the hill from development. 

In the 1990 general election, the then chief minister Dr Lim Chong Eu lost his Padang Kota state seat, and BN lost so many seats that Gerakan, which headed Penang, had fewer seats than Umno. 

“There were scientists with us. We sent our pamphlets and held numerous meetings with various groups and committees. 

“We educated the people how the proposed development would affect our water resources. The campaign had a huge impact. 

“Only public pressure will make a difference. Politicians are only interested in votes,” Mohideen said. 

This time, Penang is facing similar concerns again as hillslopes around the state are being developed.

Sg Ara ‘next’ 

Mohideen said the campaign against hillslope developments started in Sg Ara, where another private developer has a huge project strongly opposed by residents in the area. 

“It is already happening. We are holding forums and dialogues to follow up on the situation in Sg Ara,” he said. 

The developer is reportedly proposing to build 600 high-rise apartments and bungalows on hill land covering 32.4ha, with about 43% of the project on slopes over a gradient of 25 degrees.

The Penang Structure Plan prohibits projects on hill land 76m above sea level or slopes with a gradient exceeding 25 degrees.

Sg Ara residents took their objection to the state Appeals Board and won, but lost the case when the developer challenged its decision at the Penang High Court. The case is now pending in the Court of Appeals. 

Sunrise Garden Condominium committee member Manuel Nicholas, 64, said the high court was not convinced that the residents’ objections were for public interest and not personal interests. 

“The next landslide will be in Sg Ara if this kind of developments go on. 

“We should not allow hill-land developments. If the government does not wake up, we should throw it out,” he said. 

When the Penang government was changed from BN to Pakatan Rakyat in the 2008 general election, Penangites were angry over a mega-project called “Penang Global City Centre” (PGCC). 

The proposed 104ha project on the Penang Turf Club, regarded a green lung, was to house two five-star hotels, a performing arts centre, retail complex, office towers, residential properties, convention centre, observatory tower among others. 

Local groups were up in arms against the massive project planned without consulting the people. There were also serious concerns about the development’s potential environmental and traffic impact.

Civil society groups campaigned against it and educated the public on why the PGCC project must not be allowed. 

The project attracted public opposition, and with the change of government, the project was scrapped by the new DAP-led administration. 

Educating the people  

Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association chairman Meenakshi Raman said in the past, when DAP was in the opposition, it took up many issues, including the protest against PGCC. 

“They had criticised (such projects) then but their thinking seemed to have changed. 

“People are now watching their elected reps, to judge whether they represent the people and their interests or they represent developers instead,” she said. 

Meenakshi said civil society groups would educate the people on the environmental issues in Penang and their implications. 

Penang Forum and Penang residents’ associations are coming together next Sunday morning for a dialogue on the flood problems in the state. 

She said all assemblymen in Penang are invited to attend the dialogue at the Teowchew Association on Lebuh Chulia. 

“We want to see who turns up.” – October 23, 2017.