GEORGE TOWN, Jan 5 — All feedback and objections against the Penang Island draft local plan will be scrutinized by a committee before the plan is finalised, said Penang Island City Council (MBPP) Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang.

He said the city council has received more than 1,500 submitted responses from the public on the draft local plan that was displayed to the public from October last year to January 10 this year.

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"The feedback we received consists of both objections and suggestions,” he said in a press conference after a 100 years heritage excellence award ceremony by the state government here.

He said the committee will sit down and look through all responses received from the public.

When asked about the errors and spelling mistakes in the draft local plan, he said they are aware of it and that it will be rectified.

As for objections against some of the proposals such as the increase in density, Yew said that this was only a draft local plan.

"This is only a draft, so we will still need to look through everything first and do the necessary,” he said.

He added that the public display of the draft local plan had been extended to the maximum so it could no longer be extended further.

Civil society groups and Penang Perikatan Nasional have criticised the draft local plan, pointing out weaknesses in the plan including spelling mistakes and errors in the information.

Details on the Penang Island draft local plan can be accessed online here.

Earlier, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said this is the first time that the state held an award ceremony in recognition of Penang’s assets that consist of its cultural heritage, businesses and organizations that are over a century and some over two centuries old.

The award was to encourage more organisations to continue to develop the local socio-economy, he said.

"This is proof of how rich is our heritage and culture,” he said. - malaymail