He said the Penang Island City Council will come out with the map soon, to “satisfy” queries of many parties over the flood issues plaguing the state of late.

Chow said the map would put to an end the suggestion that hill clearing and development were the main causes of floods, especially on the island.

“We have been hearing a lot of general statements, such as there are a lot of tree cutting on the island and there are a lot of projects on the hill.

“I have asked the city council to map out projects on the fringes of the hills so that everybody can be guided by facts and not general statements.

“This is to see what projects might pose an issue in regards to siltation and mud slides, if any,” he said in a press conference at the Chowrasta Market today.

Chow explained the mapping will pinpoint projects being carried out by the river basin of Sungai Pinang, and its six rivers upstream.

Chow was responding to claims by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar that Penang’s “rapid and uncontrollable development” had caused a cluttered drainage system.

He told NST Online that local councils and the state government’s negligence had led them to overlook the capacity of the drainage system, which was not compatible with the development.

Wan Junaidi had said flood mitigation plans may not be fruitful if the Penang government does not control development.