A DAP press conference was held near Penang Turf Club. The issue was the development of Penang Global City Center (PGCC).
We demand for transparency as Penangites are in the dark about this project. It was reported there will be 36 blocks of high rise building to be built at the Penang Turf Club in the next couple of years.
I said the developer has not obtained the planning permission and yet the Prime Minister has jumped the gun by announcing the PGCC. This is an action of putting the cart in front of the horse.
YB Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjong) also released a press statement on PGCC.
未批准就推介
黃漢偉：本末倒置
黃漢偉說，這項計劃在未獲批准前就舉行推介是本末倒置的作法，州政府及中央政府應該更透明化地向人民交代這項計劃。
曹觀友：決策有利益衝突
檳市局應重新檢討
updated:2007-09-29 14:18:04 MYT
行動黨檳州主席曹觀友認為，檳島市政局在尚未批准檳城環球城中城的發展計劃之前，卻要求發展商負責承建打槍埔中廉價組屋及重建城市，是有利益衝突的決定。
他說，提供廉價的房屋計劃是每個發展商在興建150個單位後所需負起的社會責任，他詢問為何市政局要把“自己的地”交給怡觀資本（檳城環球城中城發展商）興建綜合商業、住宅及停車場？
“自己綁自己的手腳”
“市政局此舉就有如‘自己綁自己的手腳’，是不恰當的。市政局應該重新檢討這個決定。
“我們理解市政局會在一些發展計劃中要求發展商先建好基設或道路，但是就這個情況，萬一市政局不批准檳城環球城中城的計劃，那應該怎辦？”
因此，他要求市政局重新檢討這個決定，而行動黨已委任律師黃漢偉，監督檳城環球城中城的工程進展。
他週五（28日）在峇都眼冬馬場前，召開新聞發布會時這麼說。
陪同出席者包括州組織秘書鄭雨周、秘書長政治秘書黃偉益、州宣傳秘書黃漢偉、丹絨區國會議員選區秘書劉敬億及武吉敏登區國會議員秘書胡佑強。
政府決策應更透明
曹觀友說，行動黨在去年開始就關注檳城賽馬場發展計劃的進展，但是卻遲遲沒有取得任何的訊息，過後就“突然”由首相公布。
“我們（包括檳城環球城中城運動組織）向所有的議員作出訴求，要他們加入，一起籲請政府在這方面具備更大的透明度，讓公眾參與整個決策的過程。”
他也對檳城人在這件事上沒有獲取完整資料感到不滿，因為受影響的不只是鄰近的居民，而是整個檳島的人民，每個人都有知道的權力。
“我們希望首長指示檳島市政局，針對檳城環球城中城計劃主辦公共論壇，而不是一如市局主席拿督再納拉欣所說的市局不會這麼做。”
主流媒體封鎖反對意見
曹觀友也對主流媒體在處理檳城環球城中城計劃的報道，有完全封鎖反對意見的情況感嘆。
他說，許多新聞並沒有在主流媒體報道出來，就如許多人根本不知道會建37棟大樓。
他說，他理解檳城環球城中城是許多主流媒體的主要廣告客戶，但是另一方的聲音被封鎖，就讓人感嘆。
“昨天的聽證會，成功讓（拿督）林樹傑（怡觀資本執行主席）談了很多。現在，我們至少收到更多的訊息。”
1 comment:
The REAL PROBLEM of PGCC REVEALED
The Penang Turf Club is an area regularly prone to flooding. Use of geologically or environmentally sensitive areas for high density development as proposed by the PGCC will have adverse impacts on the surrounding ares especially in term of flood control. Drastic alterations of a ground surface, such as compaction or paving can reduce the infiltration capacity of a surface, which can cause a serious reduction in groundwater recharge and an increase in runoff. The proposed development density of nearly 30 units to an acre may result in increased cost to local governments and other public agencies. As the local government will be force to provide more public services such as flood control, public transportation, sanitary sewage, storm sewage, solid waste collection and disposal. In many situations, the cost of providing these services to such high density commercial development is much higher than the revenues to local governments resulting from the expanded tax base. What is the cost per arce will be when utilities, flood control, transportation, and subsidiary governmental entities’ costs are included? The public would like to know how the state government can justify such kind of urban sprawl without taking into consideration the public expenditures that will incur to maintain the so called development.
The local community object to the development, arguing in part that the area was prone to flood and not suitable for development. The flood hazard mitigation effort by the state government also appears to have been carried out on an ad-hoc basis with a lack of strategic catchment planning and poor commitment to their maintenance. Flooding in the surrounding area is expected to be exacerbated by insufficient urban drainage capacity if the development is allowed. How much million the state government is expected to spend on stormwater control projects? Turning the Penang Turf Club into greenways and trails may result in reduced costs to local governments and other public agencies. Establishing a greenway in an area prone to hazards, such as flooding, may decrease costs for potential damages. Greenways and associated vegetation can also help control water, air and noise pollution by natural means, resulting in potential decreased pollution control costs. Greenways and trails may promote physical fitness, leading to decreased public health care costs.
The local community cannot efford to allow this project to take place, it is not just the traffic congestion that will haunt the resident, but the potential uninvited hazard that will surfaced at their living room when it rain; FLOOD!
Image how the muslim community nearby going to pray when the state mosque is flooded when it rain. Image how ridiculous when the Governor of Penang, has to be evacuated each time rain water flood the official residence at Residency Road. Image how the rich and famous have to be evacuated each time it rain when rain water flooded Jesselton ,York Road,Scotland Road, Hospital Road and surrounding areas. Is this what you call development, a pride to Penangites?
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