He said there would be no extension as ample time had already been given to the public, non-governmental organisations and civil society members to study the plan and give their feedback.
“Those who have not sent in their written feedback can do so when the finalised plan is open for public viewing at the end of the year’s first half.
“They will have a month to forward their views and objections. In fact, this stage is more critical as it deals with the finalised proposed draft of the structure plan,” he told reporters in Komtar today.
Jagdeep said several parties, including NGOs and civil society groups, had recently asked for the period of viewing and feedback to be extended so that they could submit their views.
It was decided in the last exco meeting that an extension would not be granted, he said, explaining that under the Town and Country Planning Act, the public need be given only one month to forward their views.
He said the state government had given the people more time than was required by law by displaying the proposed plan in public areas like Komtar and local council offices for 62 days, beginning Dec 1 last year.
Notice of the publicity programme was also published in four local newspapers in four languages last November, December and earlier this month.
“The NGOs and civil society groups ought to have been prepared to respond and give their views on the draft plan within the stipulated time,” he said.
Jagdeep said the same groups, which he did not name, had been the ones pressuring the state government to speed up the review of the structure plan.
“It is ironic that when the state is ready, these groups ask for a time extension. We had expected them to give their views and criticisms for the betterment of the plan.
“They should not be in a state of slumber,” he said.
As of noon today, only 23 had given their written feedback to the state even though 3,300 visitors viewed the plan in Komtar and local council offices, and 364 people attended briefings.
The town and country planning department website shows almost 3,000 have looked at the plan online.
“We are now compiling the feedback we have received,” Jagdeep said.
The proposed structure plan was delayed several times after the state was asked to take into account major projects such as the Batu Kawan development, special area plans for heritage sites and Penang Hill, and the Transport Master Plan.