State Town and Country Planning committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said a bill to put the gardens under a state-controlled corporation was not profit-oriented, but served to improve the gardens as a whole.
Civil society group Aliran Kesedaran Negara (Aliran) had voiced concern over whether visitors would be charged for entry as a new state law included such a provision.
Jagdeep said the provision was carried forward from the previous legislation governing the gardens, the Penang Waterfall Gardens Enactment 1923.
“It should be noted that the 2005 revision of the 1923 enactment allowed the state body to collect fees from visitors.
“Where this is concerned, the current Penang government, despite continuing the said provision, will ensure the gardens are free for all to enter.
“The provision to charge visitors would only apply for facilities being used at the gardens, so please have no fear, the Penang government is here to take the gardens to the next level,” he told reporters in his visit to the gardens today.
Aliran had raised concerns over the recently passed Penang State Park (Botanic) Corporation Enactment 2017, which puts the management of the gardens under a state government-linked corporation (GLC).
Chief among Aliran’s concerns was the possibility of the sale of land or assets in the Botanic Gardens by the new state GLC, and the possibility of a cable car station being built there.
Aliran was also “disturbed” by the lack of a Special Area Plan (SAP) for the gardens as the SAP would help restrict development in the gardens.
Responding to the group’s concerns, Jagdeep said the new state GLC was not profit-oriented, and its sole purpose was to elevate the gardens to a world-class standard.
He said there would be no sale of the gardens or its assets, but that development would be done “in sync” with the gardens.
“We are going to enhance the gardens to make it better. You cannot say there will be no development at all.
“We are legally required under the new state law to preserve the gardens and meet objectives of the bettering of the gardens,” he said.
Jagdeep also said there was a talent bleed from the gardens as many botanists and competent staff had been transferred out to other parks or services in the state.
“This was due to the state statutory body’s staff pool governed by the federal Public Service Department, where the state government has no control over who to hire, fire or transfer.
“There was no retention of expertise.”
Jagdeep said once it was made a GLC, the state government may keep experienced botanists from leaving.
When asked about the cable car issue raised by Aliran, he said all views would be taken into consideration.
“The Special Area Plan for the gardens is currently being reviewed and will reach the panel stage in December. In January, there will be a public consultation window where everyone can air their views and concerns.”