Penang Gerakan wants the state government to consider repealing guidelines which allow for an increase in the density of high-rise buildings.

Penang Gerakan Local Government bureau chairman Teh Leong Meng said the Penang Municipal Council had approved the increase in the height of buildings by three times or four times.

Teh said the density of housing in Penang had been raised from 30 units per acre to 87 units or 120 units if the project involves low-cost and low-medium cost flats.

He lamented that MPPP did not made any official announcement on the amended policy and only sent letters to 18 parties who are mainly developers. The guidelines were revised by MPPP in June 2010.

“As it takes about two years to approve building plans, problems have started,” said Teh at a press conference at the Penang Gerakan headquarters in Jalan Macalister. Also present were Penang Gerakan Youth vice-chairman Tan Kah Leong, Penang Gerakan local government bureau vice-chairmen Teoh Hang Chong and Mohan A/L Apparoo, and Pulau Tikus Barisan Nasional coordinator Rowena Yam.

Teh said the amended guidelines could lead to various problems including traffic congestion and increase in property prices.

“Penang people do not want to live in crowded concrete jungle like Hong Kong. Penang people want to see the natural green of the hill and the beautiful beaches,” he said, adding that increased densities have caused land prices to become more expensive, thus further pushing up prices of properties.

According to Teh, in 2008 the Penang Local Plan draft stated that the density should be maintained at 30 units per acre but why wasn’t it implemented?

“We urge the state government to gazette a comprehensive Local Plan to protect the interests of high-rise residents in Penang,” he said, adding that Gerakan supports the residents’ call for a moratorium on high-rise development.