The Malaysian Insight

THE Penang South Reclamation project is not necessary, said the Penang Consumers’ Association (CAP).

Its president, S.M. Mohamed Idris, said there was no need to reclaim three man-made islands off the southern coast of Penang island, just as the state government announced it is pushing for PSR to be approved by federal authorities.

Yesterday, state local government exco Jagdeep Singh Deo said Penang would try its best to get the PSR proposal tabled at the National Physical Planning Council and approved in April.

The PSR project is crucial to the state government, as it finances the ambitious Penang Transport Master Plan and will provide new land for future developments in the southern part of Penang Island, including housing.

But Idris said the state did not need more land to build homes when there was already an overhang of residential projects.

“There are already many residential units unsellable in Penang now, as many locals are unable to afford them.

“Twenty years ago, we warned that there was an overdevelopment of residential projects but they didn’t listen,” he told a press conference today.

The overhang Idris spoke of was acknowledged by the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association’s Penang chapter last month.

The association said most of the unsold units were affordable ones. Affordable homes in Penang are priced under RM300,000.

Idris said the state could be unhappy with him for his view, but he stood by it.

“The state will push anything. They are in power for five years, they can do anything and then go away.”

Idris said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow was free to be angry with him, like the former chief minister Lim Guan Eng and the late Dr Lim Chong Eu were.

The 92-year-old said he had opposed other mega projects by previous state administrations before, even the building of Komtar by the Chong Eu government.

“We opposed building Komtar. Look at the shops there now. Many have closed. A lot of space is unoccupied,” he said of the tower complex built in 1986 that also houses various government offices until today.

“Chong Eu used to call me so many names. Guan Eng was angry with me. Now Chow can also get angry with me. But I won’t stop stating the reality.”

Idris also voiced his unhappiness with the ongoing reclamation off Persiaran Gurney.

“Look at Gurney Drive now. There is havoc and by the time they finish reclaiming, the whole place will be destroyed,” he said, highlighting worries that the environment would be destroyed at the expense of future generations.

Idris said those in power should “stop talking nonsense” and think carefully what the people really needed.

“People don’t need more commercial buildings, supermarkets, hypermarkets. They need money to eat daily.” – February 20, 2019.