CM Chow should not insult Penangites

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s comments aimed at non-governmental organisations critical of the state government’s policies on the environment are uncalled for.

Chow said: “If NGOs like those in Penang were in Hong Kong, asking for development to be stopped over a landslide, Hong Kong would not be as developed as it is today”.

It is rather insulting for someone like Chow with no roots in Penang to say this to Penangites.

Firstly, why must Penang follow Hong Kong’s model? Is there no better model in developing Penang?

Comparing the hills in Hong Kong to those in Penang is like comparing jambu batu to tomatoes. Hong Kong’s hills are like the mountains of Shimla in India. They are solid rock and the buildings are stable on steep slopes.

The hills in Penang are not made of the same stuff. Does he not know this?

For whom is Penang being “developed”, if not for a few rich developers to make money in Penang?

Why must more and more people be brought into Penang island if not for some people to make money at the expense of the long-time residents of Penang?

The peace and quiet that people have enjoyed for decades are being destroyed by the development projects that are creating nuisance.

One example is converting a developed and occupied residential zone of Desa Jelita, Permatang Damar Laut, Batu Maung into an industrial zone, thus allowing industries to operate in shophouses across the back lane of houses.

What sort of “development” is this for improving the quality of life of Penangites?

Can the state throw out provisions of the law that it chooses to, to satisfy the needs of the business people?

The Town and Country Planning Act prohibits industries operating in residential zones. Instead of removing the illegal industries, the state bent backwards (in 2012) to legalise them as a residential zone simply by re-zoning the affected premises to “industrial”.

This has set a precedent. Now anyone could rent a house or shophouse in any residential zone in Penang and start a factory. If the residents complain, the state can simply re-zone those premises into “industrial” and thus legalise the illegal industries.

Ravinder Singh is an FMT reader.