Penang Gerakan wants the DAP-led state government to revoke approving the hill slope project in Sungai Ara.

Local Government Bureau head Teh Leong Meng said the state government should immediately solve the problem to prevent further suffering of the residents staying near the project.

Teh said the residents had to suffer with fear of safety, besides having to go around the houses talking to neighbours to collect money to pay for the legal expenses. The project is on a hill behind their homes.

“Challenging the state government’s decision comes with a price as the residents have to worry over the legal cost in this long-drawn legal battle, as well as the safety issue,” Teh said a press conference at the Penang Gerakan headquarters.

Also present were Bureau vice-chairmen Teoh Hang Chong and A Mohan.

Teh questioned who would take responsibility for the safety of the residents in the long run and whether the state government or the Chief Minister could give a guarantee that there would not be another Highland Towers tragedy. The Highland Towers tragedy refers to the collapse of one of three blocks of apartments in Hulu Klang, Selangor on Dec 11, 1993, killing 48 people.

Teh said the chief minister should exercise his powers as the chairman of the State Planning Committee (SPC) and instruct the Municipal Council of Penang Island (MPPP) to revoke and withdraw the planning permission approval given to the developer of the hillslope project in Sg Ara.

“Since the CM has reportedly said that the state government has not approved any development on contours higher than 76 metres, that means the SPC has not approved the planning permission. Thus, the approval given by the MPPP is null and void,” he said.

The Sg Ara hillslope project is one of 19 hillslope developments higher than 76 metres and with the slope exceeding 25 degrees that have been approved by the council.

by Editorial Desk
gerakan4u.com