It is to provide land to sell in order to fund PTMP (estimated to cost more than RM50 billion) and is proposed to be the focal point of Penang’s development for the next 50 years.
The state government seems to think ‘Reclaim land and more foreign investors will come’. But is the availability of land the main consideration or is it tax exemptions, labour costs and other cost considerations?
In the first place, why was the Halcrow Plan basically abandoned in August 2015 in favour of the current PTMP, mooted by developers?
In 2013, Halcrow, the British transport consultants, mooted a much more environment-friendly, cost-saving and coherent plan, focusing primarily on revamping public transport. This came after two years’ of study and research.
Since reclamation takes years to complete, is it not putting the cart before the horse to start PSR and PTMP at the same time?
It will take years before the land on the three islands can be sold. In the meantime, will the Light Rail Transit (LRT) not be accumulating tens of millions of ringgit in interest if it proceeds first?
The state is very confident that the reclaimed land can be sold at high prices. Is this the case, really?
In over-developed Penang island, why is “development” still being pursued with such frenzy? Will we be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs?
Should not development be focusing on mainland Penang, where there is plenty of land and plenty of infrastructure needs?
Surely, channelling development to the mainland is the need of the hour and perfectly in line with national integration and unity objectives?
What about rising sea levels due to global climate change? Based on the latest figures from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), experts tell us that the three islands could well be inundated by one to two metres between 2040 and 2060, in a worst-case scenario.
Currently, 20-30% of Malaysia, including parts of George Town, could be inundated within 30 years or sooner. Instead of securing our existing land against this threat, we are creating more low-level land through reclamation.
In view of the above, it is therefore not surprising that the petition against reclamation of the three islands earlier today had already garnered 52,919 signatures whereas another petition supporting the project, started by Anak Pinang a day later (May 11, 2019), has gathered a mere 1,449 signatures.
Evidently, more and more of the hitherto silent majority are speaking out against PSR and PTMP.
When will the powers that be abandon this quixotic PSR and subject PTMP to an independent review?
Until they do, our rallying cry must be “Penang tolak tambak”.
Eric Cheah is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.