Malaysians Must Know the TRUTH: Penang BN manifesto pledges to scrap undersea tunnel project

Sunday, April 15, 2018

GE14 | Penang BN revealed its manifesto today which among others promised to cancel the much debated undersea tunnel project.

Themed as “Save Penang”, the coalition made six pledges if it can recapture the state from Pakatan Harapan.

The manifesto was launched by Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow, accompanied by state Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman and MCA chief Tan Teik Cheng.

Unlike the previous election, the state BN launched its manifesto ahead of Harapan.

The six pledges of Penang BN are:

1) To solve flood and bald hill issues within 3.5 years

to immediately stop development on the hillside and high land areas of 250 feet above sea level.
to proclaim highland and hillslope areas of 250 feet above sea level as a permanent forest reserve.
to install water pump and floodgate to channel the overflowing water from flood hotspot area.
to implement the Penang Flood Mitigation Plan.
Tree planting on hillside areas.

2) To solve people’s housing issues by building 65,000 affordable houses within five years

Housing developers are required to build 30 percent quota of low cost, low-medium cost and People’s Housing Project (PPR) at the same location, as a whole project.
To introduce Rent-to-Own Housing Scheme.
To set a price of RM40,000 including a free car park for a low-cost unit.
To set a range of RM80,000 to RM120,000 including a free car park for a medium-cost unit.
To provide public housing rental scheme to help the tenants under the poor and disabled category.
To set up " interest-free fund" for buyers who are eligible for low-cost, low-medium cost and PPR buyers.
To reduce the development charges and contribution imposed on units of low-cost, low-medium cost and PPR.
To cancel further land reclamation project at Permatang Damar Laut, Gurney Drive.
To remain on agricultural land status.

3) To solve traffic congestion issues within three years

To cancel undersea tunnel project between Bagan Ajam and Gurney Drive.
To build interchange at traffic congested locations.
To re-study effectiveness of traffic dispersal system in city centre.
To increase the efficiency of existing public transport system, and "park and ride" facilities.
To create Traffic Dispersal Plan.
To build multi-storey carparks in critical areas.

4) Economic Development

To increase job opportunities and income through the following approaches:

To develop economic and trading activities through One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiatives.
To set up Halal Hub for medical devices industries, pharmaceutical, healthy food, supplement for export purposes.
To encourage growth, and simplify the transformation of small and medium industry into multi-national company.
To set up infrastructure and talent development to face the challenges of Industrial Revolution 4.0.
To set up one "e-trade platform" to encourage more young people to venture into business.
To absorb contract workers of MPSP and MBPP as permanent employees under a newly set up corporation.
To eliminate privatisation system for original hawker sites, stalls and temporary sites.
To increase land bank through government agencies.
To reduce rent for market hawker sites, stalls and temporary hawker site to RM10 per month.
To modernise morning/night market.
To set up Digital and Robotic Industrial Zone.

5) People’s welfare

Create Prosperous Family Complex in each district.
Abolish water surcharge.
Abolish postage charge and other charges incurred for bill payment.
Free water supply to the people under extreme poverty.
Reduce the charges for water disconnection and reconnection.
Assist Resident Management Corporation with bill arrears issues.
No water tariff increase for residences within five years.
Abolish toll charges for motorcycles.
Provide school bus subsidy to the eligible family.
Provide community ambulance services in rural areas.
Waive land tax, assessment for low-cost, medium-cost and village houses.
Portion of the fund from tax assessment will be channelled to the management corporation for building management.
Free parking for MBPP and MPSP roadside parking and in residential areas.
Provide RM2,000 special fund for first time married couples.
Fund allocation of RM15 million per year for national type, religious and private Chinese schools.
Simplify application process and free license for pet rearing.
Increase senior citizen aid to RM300 per year, with payment of RM150 every six months.
Re-introduce the traffic warden in school areas.
Annual grant of RM3,000 to primary school PIBG, RM5,000 to secondary school PIBG and alumni society.
Appoint 50 percent of city councillors from independent bodies.
Set up Penang Education Foundation to pay university admission fee to those eligible.

6) Tourism and heritage

Encourage more direct flights and total stopovers of cruise ships in Penang.
Limit sales of heritage building to foreigners.
Preserve status of Georgetown as Unesco World Heritage Site.
Create “Penang Food Heaven” zones and improve food tourism activities.
Revive and upgrade “Living Heritage” and Artisan Streets at George Town World Heritage sites.
Maintain, conserve, Penang historical buildings.
Host World Musical Fiesta Tour. - Mkini