PKR leaders speak out against excessive development in Balik Pulau

(The Star) - Two state PKR leaders have lent their voices to a growing chorus of people here objecting against excessive development in Balik Pulau.

Penang PKR vice-chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussein said development of luxurious houses in the green lung area of Balik Pulau should be stopped.

“The conversion of agriculture land to housing in Balik Pulau should also be stopped. I feel the development here is excessive.

“Whatever plans that have been approved, it should just stop now. We should look at how to cater to the low-income group by constructing low-cost and low medium-cost housing here,” said Abdul Halim, who is also the State Speaker, during his Hari Raya open house at the Balik Pulau Sports Complex yesterday.

Another state PKR leader, Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusof, lauded the call, saying that Balik Pulau development must take the environment into consideration.

“Development must be environmentally-friendly in which we must preserve our living heritage and the rustic lifestyle of the people here — for example, the Malay villages, the Chinese fishing settlements as well as the mangroves and hills.

“The real challenge is to introduce a relevant urban planning model for Balik Pulau,” he said.

Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu, who is from DAP, had previously spoken out against hillslope development, especially the proposed 49-storey “super-condo” in Batu Ferringhi.

Many Barisan Nasional leaders had also demanded that the state review its development policies, particularly those related to hillslope in view of the dangers to the environment.