Zairil grilled by condo residents in Batu Ferringhi

Residents unhappy with non-committal stance taken by DAP’s Tanjung Bungah candidate.

Tanjung Bungah state seat candidate Zairil Khir Johari said the state government will re-evaluate the hillside development.

GEORGE TOWN: DAP’s Tanjung Bungah state seat candidate Zairil Khir Johari earned the wrath of residents of a condo in Batu Ferringhi here for giving a non-committal answer over a high-rise project taking place on a hill slope next to their buildings.

An eight-block high-rise complex is slated to be built on a hill land measuring 4.8ha next to their condominium.

In a “meet the candidates” session, a resident had asked Zairil if the project would be cancelled, to which he said it would be “re-evaluated”.

He said the Penang government would review the guidelines on hill slope development in the future.

Residents in attendance were unhappy with his non-committal answer.

Resident Jessica Lee said Zairil’s answers were not acceptable as the hill slope was “clearly dangerous”.

State BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow, who was present at the session, said Penang BN had promised to cancel all hill-related projects if it was given the mandate to administer Penang again.

“We will put a stop to this, even if we have to pay compensation.”

He said he was shocked to see the projects taking place on a hill land which was more than the 25-degree slope approved for development by the Penang government.

The project comprises five 29-storey tower blocks, two 34-storey blocks of 336 serviced apartments each, and one block of 197 units of affordable apartments. - FMT