CM: Penang Structured Plan to be added into state's Vision 2030

The state will try to incorporate the much-awaited new Penang Structure Plan (PSP) into its Penang 2030 Vision, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.

"This Vision was launched in August last year after the PSP, so we will try to incorporate as many of the elements as we can from the structure plan," he told a press conference.

Accompanying Chow at the press conference were state legislative assembly Speaker Law Choo Kiang, Penang Institute representative Ong Siow Woon and Think City programme director Matt Benson.

The press conference was held after the Penang 2030 stakeholders consultation meeting at Bukit Mertajam. The meeting is a joint collaboration between the Penang government, Penang Institute and Think City.

PSP2030 is a federal law which requires all state to come up with a 10- year structured plan, renewable every five years.

While the last gazetted plan for Penang was in 2007, the PSP 2020 did not take off on schedule with the delay due to the inclusion of the Special Area Plans for George Town and Penang Hill.

The participants represented the education, manufacturing, housing and agriculture sectors, raising topics related to the need for more comprehensive planning by the state and how the state could contribute to improving household income levels.

Penang's Vision 2030 has four main themes, first being to increase liveability to enhance the quality of life; second to upgrade the economy to raise household income; third to empower people to strengthen civic participation and lastly to invest in the built environment to improve resilience.

During its launch on Aug 29 last year, Chow said that "the future of Penang is in Seberang Perai" to show that the state will put in more effort to develop the mainland, which is perceived by certain quarters to be neglected by the state government.

Chow said about 50 stakeholders were briefed on the various themes and strategic initiatives of Penang 2030 during the consultation session which ran from 9am to 1.30pm and which focussed on Seberang Prai.

"The themes are interconnected, there are none which have a higher priority than the other to realise Penang 2030's vision of a family-focused, green and smart state that inspires the nation," Chow said.

"We will conduct a similar session on the island tomorrow and we have done a session with state exco members and we will be holding one for the state secretariat led by state secretary Farizan Darus and one with state representatives as well, " he added.

"After the consultation sessions, a booklet on the stakeholders' feedback and proposals will be launched on April 27 and these will further explain our vision and plans for the future," he said.

Chow said all sectors, from manufacturers and investors to citizens from all walks of lives can contribute to Penang's future plans after understanding the state's directions for 2030. - Mkini