Penang North Coast

We just want our Hills Preserved!

2011-08-30T01:32:00.000-07:00

The Penang public just wants its hills preserved, guarded and cared for; we look to our state government to ensure that self-serving, profit-driven entrepreneurs take their ill-conceived plans elsewhere. Our future and the future of our children cannot be left in the hands of developers.
..........Penang Forum Steering Committee.....................
..............................27 August 2011........................................

The hill above which does not warrant any consideration as a steep slope now looks like this!

Ivory Towers continue to grow out of a steep slope. Where is the environmental impact study? Where is the regard for public safety? Who approved this development in the Batu Ferringhi district?

NST article 29-8-2011 with picture
GEORGE TOWN: A DAP state representative has taken the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) to task for approving hill slope development projects based on what he claims are flawed and outdated evaluation methods.
Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu, known as an environmentalist here, said the approach had exposed thousands of residents on the island to potential landslide risks.
He had expressed his concern on account of the mushrooming of upscale development projects, with frequent cases of minor landslides, especially in the Tanjung Bungah and Batu Feringghi areas.
Teh said that the MPPP had failed to keep up with times in adopting more reliable landslide identification methods.
Speaking to reporters at a hill slope development in Solok Tan Jit Seng in Tanjung Bungah yesterday, he criticised the MPPP for giving the developers a free hand to exploit hill slopes.
In calling for an immediate halt for future hill-cutting to prevent further environmental degradation, Teh also hit out at unscrupulous developers who were exempted from submitting Environmental Impact Assessment reports upon sub-dividing their hill slope projects into smaller plots.
Teh showed the press three sets of research papers submitted by local and international institutions, which suggested MPPP needed a more comprehensive approach to prevent landslides at hill slope developments.
"The local council has failed to use more advanced tools to identify the looming landslide threat posed to residents.
"There are so many loopholes in the MPPP hill slope evaluation methods, causing developers to cut the hills indiscriminately."
Among the methods outlined in the papers were the application of geographical information system, a form of global positioning system as well as in-depth landslide risk analysis to identify high, moderate or low landslide areas.
He added the MPPP's approach of relying on geo-technical reports submitted by developers was no longer relevant.

MPPP rapped for failing to keep watch on hillside development

2011-08-29T00:33:00.000-07:00

MPPP rapped for failing to keep watch on hillside development
By CHRISTINA CHIN
sgchris@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: An assemblyman here has taken the Penang Municipal Council to task for allegedly failing to monitor hillslope development in the state.
DAP’s Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu said the council and developers must bear full responsibility if a landslide occurs.
“Although it was the previous state government that approved all the hillslope projects here, the state Town and Country Planning Department must be aware of danger-prone areas and the council must monitor the work that goes on there.
“Otherwise, if anything happens, they, together with the developer, must be accountable,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Teh claimed that when queried the relevant authorities recently, they couldn’t even identify the landslide-prone areas, much less report on the projects there.
“When I asked an officer how such areas were identified, he appeared dumbfounded but later said it was based on sight (whether the development and hillslope area looked dangerous).”
He said there must be a proper plan to identify high-risk areas and standard operating procedures (SOP) must be in place to monitor hillslope projects before it was too late.
Teh urged the council to refer to the recent environmental research utilising the geographic information system (GIS), experts and non-governmental organisations if it did not have the relevant knowledge.
“Clearly, the council has no expertise to monitor hillslope development. They should establish a geo-technical committee instead of simply relying on the Institute of Civil Engineering (Ikram).
“Whenever the council needed a geo-technical report, they will refer to Ikram, and when there is a dispute, the council will ask the developer to get a second opinion from a private consultant who would usually not even bother to visit the site and just refer to the Ikram report,” he said.
Teh denied he was hitting out at state Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow and state Health, Welfare, Environment and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh over the matter.
In an immediate response, Chow said the council could not be setting up numerous specialist committees when it was more efficient to refer technical issues to other expert agencies.
“The council is like a clinic. When a patient comes in with a complicated health problem, he needs to be referred to a specialist because we do not have the expertise to treat him.”

Sad day for Residents of Tanjong Bungah and Batu Ferringhi

2011-05-05T02:27:00.000-07:00

It would seem that there is no justice in Penang as far as development goes.
We have Ivory building their high density housing towers in Batu Ferringhi we have Asia Pacific land building their illegal office block on mount pleasure and not one person is prepared to lift finger to stop it.
We really did paint paradise and put up a parking lot!

GEORGE TOWN: The Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association (TBRA) who failed in its bid in the High Court for the status of Tanjung Bungah’s locality in the Penang Structure Plan 2020 to be amended.
Justice Yaacob Md Sam allowed an application by defendants - the state government, the Town and Country Planning Department director and the state Planning Committee to strike out the suit brought by TBRA.
The application was allowed with TBRA ordered to pay costs of RM5,000.
TBRA’s chairman George Patrick Alexander Aeria and co-chairman Tan Jin Aik, who brought the action on behalf of the association, were the plaintiffs in the suit.
In his ruling, Yaacob held that the TBRA did not commence the right mode of action against the defendants.
He said TBRA should have sued the defendants by way of a judicial review and not by way of an originating summons.
Yaacob also said the TBRA had also brought the action way past 40 days of the grace period allowed after the plan was approved and gazetted.
He said there was inordinate delay on the part of the plaintiffs in bringing the action.
TBRA had only filed the suit against the defendants on June 25, last year, which was about three years after the plan was approved and gazetted.
TBRA, represented by Lalitha Menon and Agatha Foo, brought the action against the defendants to determine the status of the locality under the structure plan.
Among others, they sought a declaration that a diagram which indicated that Tanjung Bungah was in the Primary Development Corridor (PDC), and not in the Secondary Development Corridor (SDC), as not valid.
The plaintiffs also want a declaration that a diagram in the structure plan which was gazetted on June 28, 2007 had obvious mistakes and was erroneous in law as it contradicted the statements in the structure plan.
They want another declaration that the SDC should start from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang and not from Mar Vista to Teluk Bahang as shaded in a diagram of the gazetted plan.
In his affidavit, Aeria said when the draft plan was drawn up, Tanjung Bungah was under the SDC but when the plan was approved and gazetted, a diagram showed that the locality was shaded as being under the PDC.
He said the density of the PDC was between 30 to 120 housing units per acre while the density for the SDC 15 units per acre.
He said by having the locality under the PDC , it would create a bad impact in the lives of the Tanjung Bungah residents as numerous problems would arise out of the massive development there.
TRBA’s lawyers had contended that the association was not able to file the action via a judicial review within the 40-day period as it did not know of the changes of the structure plan which was approved and gazetted.
In their statement of defence, the defendants said the action by the plaintiffs was an abuse of court process and they had no right to initiate the action without first exhausting domestic remedies available under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976.

Year End Update

2010-12-04T23:25:00.000-08:00

Batu Ferringhi is within the secondary development corridor. It is an area set aside for tourism and leisure. The only residential development allowed is low density housing to a maximum of 3 floors on steep slopes. The picture above is Batu Ferringhi in December of 2010. In the centre back ground is the Tower at Bayu Ferringhi. By Plentitude a high density housing project in the heart of Batu Ferringhi tourist area. The tower is now topped out but not before growing above the hill top.
On the back of the same hill the estate called Moonlight bay. Four floor houses built on the side of a very steep hill on stilts. The developer claims it was designed to Mediterranean standards. Below is a picture of an illegal Israeli settlement built on occupied Palestinian land. This picture may substantiate the claim!

In the foreground of the previous picture is the Island Bay high density housing development by Ivory. Multiple towers being constructed on the side of a very steep hill slope. Now very apparent, as you drive along the only access road to the main tourist area of Batu Ferringhi. This site took weeks of rock blasting to create a flat area large enough to build these towers on. How safe only time will tell. The environmental impact is probably devastating; it certainly is to the wildlife that lost its habitat to this development. Improvements to the existing infrastructure zero! Low density housing 15 units to the acre totally forgotten. No high rise developments on steep slopes, disregarded.

Shamrock beach development. 62 Eco friendly tin roof shacks. 30 are complete and just four are lived in one year after completion! The developer is now building the remaining 32 units six days a week 12 hours per day. Exactly which part of this development is Eco friendly is not at all clear. Possibly the use of energy saving light bulbs! Will anyone actually live there or will this be just another investors ghost town! How much more housing does this Eco sensitive once pristine area need? How many years will Batu Ferringhi have to wait for much needed improvements to the infrastructure? How many more of these housing projects will our government approve? Why did the tax payers of Penang pay to have a structure plan developed if there was no intent to follow it?
Happy Christmas to all and may your God be with you in 2011.

As it Used to be!

2010-09-26T20:01:00.001-07:00

This picture was taken from Google Earth in April of 2010. it was used during the forum held by TBRA and BFRA The picture shows 2.2 kilometers of the North coast of Penang. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is the reason for many people to visit Penang. It is the reason that this area was put into the Secondary development corridor an area set aside for tourism and leisure and low density housing!

This picture was taken from Google Earth in September 2010. It shows the same 2.2 kilometers of the North coast of Penang. It is no longer an area of outstanding natural beauty! It has been destroyed and covered in concrete! In order to gain access to the main beach and hotel area it is now necessary to travel along a dangerous winding road which is overloaded with construction traffic. You have to look at buildings instead of rain forest.
To developers rain forest indicates a green field site to be turned into money! Our MPPP (Penang Council)should be protecting this area and setting it aside as an area of outstanding natural beauty! To be used and appreciated by all for tourism and leisure! Tourism was the golden egg of Penang. Sadly the people responsible for maintaining it have cooked the goose that laid the egg! It can never be the same again! It has completely lost it's charm and paradise has been paved over!

SUNDAY AFTERNOON!

2010-09-13T02:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Jalan Batu Ferringhi on a Sunday afternoon!

While you are in Batu Ferringhi why not try out the Hawker food stall.

We even have reserved parking for you!

BUT PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME TO ENJOY OUR TRAFFIC! DRIVE SAFE AND ARRIVE ALIVE!

More Destruction?

2010-08-28T00:50:00.000-07:00

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100806002148/Article/#ixzz0xsuWWxbG

IVORY Properties Group Bhd will buy a plot of land measuring 0.5ha in Bandar Batu Ferringhi, Penang, for RM25 million.

Ivory told Bursa Malaysia yesterday that it had entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement with Lim Soon Hin and Lim Soon Vin for the purpose.

It plans to build 96 units of condominium with an estimated GDV of RM159 million on the land.

http://www.theedgeproperty.com/news-a-views/4302-ivory-prop-acquires-batu-ferringhi-land-for-rm25m.html

By E Jacqui Chan of theedgeproperty.com
Thursday, 05 August 2010 19:47

KUALA LUMPUR: Ivory Properties Group Berhad via its wholly owned subsidiary, Ivory Meadows Sdn Bhd is acquiring a 1.103-acre tract of land along Batu Ferringhi, Penang for RM25 million, it said on Thursday, Aug 5.

The group entered into a Sales and Purchase Agreement (SAP) with the two owners of the freehold land on Aug 5.

The land is earmarked for a residential project named The Edge, comprising 96 units of condominiums. The estimated gross development value is RM159 million with an estimated gross development cost of RM76 million.

Ivory Properties expects to bring in profits of RM58 million from this project. The development is expected to start next year and will be developed over a span of three years.

The SAP will be made available for inspection at Ivory Properties office at Suite 2-1, 2nd Floor, Menara Penang Garden, 42A Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah 10050 Penang during normal working hours from Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays for a period of one week from the date of the announcement.

Ivory Defends the Monstrosity!

2010-08-27T22:41:00.000-07:00

http://www.theedgeproperty.com/news-a-views/4198-penang-property-focus-a-life-of-luxury-with-ivory.html

Penang Property Focus: A life of luxury with Ivory
Datuk Low Eng Hock , Ivory Properties Group , Moonlight Bay

By Regina William of The Edge Malaysia
Sunday, 15 August 2010 00:00
Driving up the winding road to the tourist belt of Batu Ferringhi in Penang, it’s hard to miss the grand homes being built atop a nearby hill. Penang-based Ivory Properties Group says that with its iconic development, Moonlight Bay, it is raising the bar for luxury living on the island.
IS THIS REFERRING TO JALAN BATU FERRINGHI THE LONGEST AND MOST DANGEROUS CAR PARK IN PENANG. WHERE AMBULANCES AND CEMENT TRUCKS MIX WITH BUSES AND MOTORCYCLES, ALL DODGING THE POT HOLES AND OPEN DRAINAGE SYSTEM!
Moonlight Bay was inspired by the charm of the southern European-Mediterranean seaside towns, where villas are built on terraces with sweeping views of the sea. YES YOUR ARTIST IMPRESSIONS LOOK GREAT. HOW ABOUT SOME PHOTOS OF THE REAL THING? OR IS IT POSSIBLE THAT EVEN YOU ARE TOO EMBARRASSED TO SHOW IT FOR WHAT IT IS?

Ivory touts the development, with a GDV of RM190 million, as being like no other in the country. THANK YOU FOR THAT AT LEAST. PROMISE US IVORY THAT YOU WILL NEVER AGAIN BUILD A MONSTROSITY LIKE THIS.

Moonlight Bay raises the bar for luxury living on Penang Island IT DESTROYED A HILL SIDE WE WILL GIVE YOU THAT MUCH!
Sprawling (ACTUALLY STACKED UP ON A NEAR VERTICAL HILL SIDE)over 5.6ha, Moonlight Bay comprises only 70, 4-storey villas and 20 “condovillas” equipped with state-of-the-art-security systems, landscaped gardens, pocket parks, cascading water features,(ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS AND ALL THAT MUD ENDS UP IN THE SEA BELOW) swimming pools,(GOOD AT LEAST THEY WON'T HAVE TO SWIM IN THE SEWAGE BELOW) indoor and outdoor gyms, a 3-storey club house and service lift towers to allow residents to move easily from the top tier 250 ft above sea level to the bottom tier.

Ivory Group managing director Datuk Low Eng Hock
Addressing concerns over building on hillsides, Ivory group managing director Datuk Low Eng Hock says the project adheres to local hillslope development guidelines as well as the guidelines for similar developments in Hong Kong, where they are common.
YES LET HONG KONG KEEP THEM! HILL SLOPE DEVELOPMENT OF MAXIMUM 3 STORIES? MAXIMUM OF 15 HOMES TO THE ACRE? THOSE LOCAL HILL SIDE DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES?

A retaining wall system that meets both US and European safety standards was built. Because of Moonlight Bay’s elevation there is a low density requirement, but Ivory opted to build 50% fewer units than permitted under the guidelines. The project has been described as an engineering and technical feat because of the challenges of the construction. Each stage was monitored and certified by three teams of independent engineers. STILT HOUSES WITH A WALL TO HIDE THE STILTS SO THAT THE UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE DON'T SEE THEM!

The foundation of each invidividual 4-storey villa is reinforced with caisson piles strong enough structurally to support a 10-storey building. AS LONG AS THE HILL SLOPE IS STABLE AND DOES NOT MOVE!

Retaining as much of the greenery as possible, the entire site has been landscaped into a resort-style garden. TAKE ANOTHER LOOK! THIS WAS ONCE A RAINFOREST SLOPE IT IS NOW BROWN EARTH AND CONCRETE! YOU COULD PAINT ALL THOSE WALLS GREEN!

Low says creating Moonlight Bay was not easy but it is a masterpiece among Ivory’s projects and it has already won several international property awards.THE UGLIEST SITE IN THE WORLD?

The villas, each with its own private lift, have land areas ranging from 2,350 sq ft to 6,550 sq ft and built-ups from 3,800 sq ft to 5,500 sq ft. They are priced from RM2.7 million to RM4.6 million (RM646 per sq ft).

The condovillas range in size from 1,950 sq ft to 2,200 sq ft with prices starting at RM1.2 million to RM1.4 million (RM618 per sq ft). Fifty-eight of the villas and seven of the condovillas have been sold.

Buyers come from as far away as the US, the UK, Italy, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Middle East, Singapore and Indonesia. The keys should be handed over to the owners in August. YET MORE "FOR SALE" SIGNS GOING UP IN AUGUST AS IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPTY PROPERTIES ALREADY!

Resort style living at 10 Island Resort
Just a stone’s throw away from Moonlight bay(WHICH YOU FAIL TO SHOW IN THE ARTISTS IMPRESSIONS) is another Ivory project — 10 Island Resort at the famed Miami Beach in Batu Ferringhi, with a spectacular seafront hillside setting.(ANOTHER ILLEGAL HILL SLOPE DEVELOPMENT)

10 Island Resort, with a GDV of RM193 million, comprises three blocks with 266 condominiums and 15, 4-storey resort villas. The density of the condos is low, with only four units per floor on the regular levels, two units on the executive floors and one unit on the penthouse floor. Each unit has a sea view.

Prices range from RM479 per sq ft, with built-ups from 1,100 sq ft to 3,200 sq ft. Completion is expected in 2012. Facilities include a swimming pool and other recreational facilities.

The Soul of Penang

2010-06-14T04:16:00.000-07:00

The Soul of Penang
Fast Disappearing…..Laments of a Township.

Please don’t sell Penang down the road!

Once upon a time, as recently as 5 or 6 years ago, you could take a relaxing, cooling, shaded drive up the north coast of Penang, along the sleepy rainforest teaming with local wildlife, the calls of the Langurs and Macaques hanging out, colorful birds singing on one side; and the beautiful, vast blue sea with her quiet inviting beaches on the other that Penangites and Malaysians from all over the country seeked out as their unique water playground. As a child, I remember the clear blue waters we swam in with fish visible clear to the bottom, comparable to the waters of the Greek Islands.... no more! Oh, how I weep for my beloved Penang.

This drive now has become a heavily packed, dangerous, overused utility road for developers with heavy vehicular traffic (lorries and cement trucks) that they have introduced. A curving, slope-hugging roadway that cannot be expanded to accommodate such a large increase in traffic. Many permanent residents worry about the safety of all who use this road, including cyclists and pedestrians, while motorbikes maneuver recklessly around cars and buses.

Random, chaotic, arbitrary development of every meter of hillside and seafront from Tanjong Bunga to Batu Ferringhi has become the norm. Massive high rise developments have up sprung everywhere, haphazardly, right to the edges of the main thoroughfare, the only direct roadway from town to the coastal rainforest/beach/resort areas of this beautiful island, without proper thought or planning for the consequences that come with this kind of rapid development. The steep watershed areas of Tanjong Bunga once reserved, now being developed is of great concern to its residents....what will happen to our water supply? The results of this kind of hill degradation was recently experienced in the form of flash floods by the Chee Seng Garden residents of Tanjong Bunga. We worry about the hill sliding in a heavy monsoon... a mud slide that could cause another Highland Towers or an Antarabangsa!

There are a thousand reasons not to do this to our beloved Penang especially our beach and waterfront areas which should have a unique status as a ‘Special Recreation Area’ for all, not only in the present, but also for posterity. But leaders and consortia of avarice have led Penang‘s Town and Country Planners of public good down a bad road. Worst of all, there is no demand for these high rise apartments, many are lightless at night and empty! They are being heavily marketed by ravenous developers to local “investors” of the mindset that ‘the more property you put your money in the better off you are, a kind of failsafe protection but short sighted and environmentally unsound; but also to “investors” in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Australia, UK,USA etc. advertising grandiose air brushed architect designer plans which never show the real Tanjong Bunga or Batu Ferringhi of congestion that has been created. There is simply an over-supply and over-building which serves no ‘real local or imagined need’ in the saturated housing market. Development of housing should follow demand for housing, which is generally the reason for new developments.

Unchecked corporate avarice has become the motivating force above all, creating uncontrolled, socially irresponsible, and environmentally unsafe, unethical developments. The common good of the residents of Tanjong Bunga and Batu Ferringhi, and all living in Penang, has been put on the back burner, leading us rapidly to a TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS in our neighborhoods. Sometimes, the most valuable things in life cannot be measured in dollars and cents.

Our beaches belong to all of us, not the few who have built right to the sea, developers, corporations and foreign consortia building along and blocking access to the waterfront, which negate the ordinary people’s right to enjoy the beautiful beaches and seaside of Penang.

A beachside recreational park for all posterity, for all the people of Penang and her mainland, is a priority. We need public lands set aside for the well being of the people of Penang. Our State Town and Country Planning Board and our State Government in their vision for Penang must take into account the wishes of the people of Penang and all its MM2H stakeholders.

To the new Government of Penang, please listen to the cries of your people. Please don’t continue the plans made previously. Hill cutting to build shoddy structures to house absentee investor residents and serve a few developers in Penang, which may lead to death and/or property destruction in these uncertain times of increased earth tremors, must be taken seriously, and has criminal implications. It cannot be deemed “not the fault of the developer” in Penang when they come tumbling down because of such negligence.

To all those involved...Please stop the permanent environmental damage and destruction, and the permanent aesthetic degradation and “visual eye sore” of the unique Penang landscape of coastal rainforest once rich with wildlife and our dying beautiful beaches and waterfront. Let’s work together on changing this. Please get involved and FREE OUR PENANG.

Let’s keep the “Pearl of the Orient” simply that!... and not let it become the “Toilet of the Orient” (in reference to where all the human waste from Tanjong Bunga and Batu Ferringhi goes...the overflow goes into the ocean untreated in some stretches of the North Coast, we just can’t be sure which stretch!)

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in its roar: I love not man the less, but Nature more.~ George Gordon, Lord Byron from 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage' ~

Look deep into nature,
and then you will understand everything better.
~ Albert Einstein ~

Botanic Garden Arches Help!

2010-06-07T23:43:00.000-07:00

Arches in the Penang Botanic Gardens in Min Of Tourism Website
Date: Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:59:31 +0800
From: Penang Heritage Trust (PHT)
To:

The Ministry is running a survey on whether the ARCHES SHOULD BE RETAINED.

Please participate in the survey. Details of the website are as below.

Please send urgent message out to all your friends to ask them to vote and please stress that the box / answer they should tick should be the NO box

Enclosed picture of the arches.

The website is http://www.motour.gov.my/en.html

The survey is right on the main page.

They are going to use the survey as the reason to keep or not to keep.

The Coastal Park Invitation!

2010-05-31T01:13:00.000-07:00

Press Release
May 31 2010

Launch of Tanjong Bunga Coastal Park
.....“They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin' hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot”.....
‘Big Yellow Taxi’ by Joni Mitchell ...singer/songwriter

This seems the unfortunate state of affairs Tanjong Bunga Residents find themselves in again and again! The people have requested on multiple occasions for the preservation of a coastal park/safe area as a nature preserve, for recreational purposes, for musical weekends of jazz and other multi-use purpose for the residents of Tanjong Bunga and the larger Penang community.....instead of more unoccupied high rises added to our everyday landscape!

It seems our local government is sensitive to the issues raised by her people and we will get a coastal park in Tanjong Bunga! Therefore, it is with great pleasure and sincere appreciation that Tanjong Bunga Residents Association invites the Press and other interested social media to observe Tanjong Bunga residents with YB Teh, initiate the soft launch of TANJONG BUNGA COASTAL PARK, near the Cove Condominium on Saturday, 5 June 2010 at 10 am.

All Press and Social Media are invited. Please come and commemorate our delight for ‘Local Residents in Partnership with our Local Government’ putting our wishes first and our dreams for a Coastal Park as a priority over illegal and unwanted development.

Purpose: Launch of Tanjong Bunga Coastal Park

Date: Saturday, 5 June 2010

Time: 10.00 am

Place: Between Cove Condominium entrance and old ‘Country Club’ site on Jalan Tanjong Bunga (opposite Tanjong Bunga Hawker Center)

Refreshments: courtesy Copthorne Orchid Hotel, Penang

For more information please contact Lee Laine at 012- 581 1123

POLICE DO NOTHING!

2010-05-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

Police blasted for ignoring 'flying rock' incidents
Susan Loone | May 27, 10 1:18pm
A group of irate residents from Tanjong Bungah is extremely
upset with the police for allegedly not taking any action against a
hillside developer's blasting activities which resulted in a flying
rock hitting a home in the area.

Tanjong Bungah Residents Association chairperson George Aeria
who has written several scathing emails to Chief Police Officer Wira
Ayob Yaakob on May 20 and 21, lamented that the police had been "slow
to investigate the matter".

Aerie claimed that residents have lodged police reports on May
19 and 20 related to the flying rock incident, and have written to
Wira Ayob since May 20.

The incident occurred at 4.20pm on May 19 sending a rock soaring
to 500 feet in the air to hit a house along Jalan Chan Siew Teong,
damaging its roof, claimed Aeria. No one, however, was reported
injured.

"We do not need the police to come into Chee Seng Gardens in a
convoy of cars and four-wheel rrives to dramatise to the residents
that some sort of action is being done, as clearly nothing came out of
it," said Aeria, referring to a police visit to the affected area in
February.

Complaints of hillside development have been heard from
residents since mid-2009 and all blame have been directed squarely at
the previous state government under former chief minister Koh Tsu Koon
for issuing permits for the construction work.

Police charged with being laid back

"The police have only on May 25 gone over to interview the home
owner when repairs have already been undertaken on the 21st by the
developer, who told the owner ‘don't worry, Auntie, we can settle
this, please do not make a police report'," said Aeria.

"The police have not yet called or spoken to the complainant of
the police report who did a video of rock hitting the roof of house
No. 172," he added.

Aeria said busses, motorcycles and cars had been see were seen
passing the site even as the siren was sounding, while the blast
occurred and flying rocks seen landing on roof tops.

He added that documentary evidence in the form of video clips
dated May 12, 17 and 19 were submitted to the police at the Tanjong
Tokong branch.

"Despite all these actions by concerned residents, what we have
is continuous blasting resulting in flying rocks for nearly two years,
thus showing that proper guidelines and safety measures were not being
followed or practised," Aeria said.

When contacted, Wira Ayob was not very forthcoming in his
response, merely stating that the police were investigating the matter
and will take the necessary action soon.

Meanwhile, Tanjong Bungah (DAP) assemblyperson Teh Yee Cheu,
said a temporary stop-work order has been issued against the developer
by the George Town Municipal Council.

Teh added that the developer Bolton Bhd had been told to stop
all earthworks pending investigations into rock-blasting works at the
site near Chee Seng Gardens.

He expressed some helplessness in resolving the issue and urged
all parties including the media to highlight the matter so that
"something can be done" to assist the residents.

"Developers often say they have taken all the necessary
precautionary measures so when accidents happen, it is an act of god,"
he said.

"The problem is the permit to undertake these construction
activities have been issued way beyond 2007, but we are trying our
best to resolve it otherwise we have no choice but to try another
approach, which we will publicise later, " he added.

--
Best regards,

Susan Loone
Email: susanloone@gmail.com
Blog: www.sloone.wordpress.com

COMING TO A NEIGHBOURHOOD NEAR YOU SOON!

2010-05-27T04:04:00.000-07:00

This is the result of Chinese Developers cutting corners, saving money and not being supervised by the authorities. Could this happen in Penang?
Ivory, Bolton Surin, Plentitude or Asia Pacific Land?
No, Not possible it never rains in Penang!

Yes it is a 13 story building and it is lying on its face!

The contractor built the building, then needed to build an underground garage! A hole was excavated to a depth of 4.6 meters on one side of the building and the earth was piled on the other side of the building. This resulted in a sideways pressure of some 3,000 tons which the hollow unreinforced foundations were not designed to stand! Then it started raining and softened the ground.
The results are clear to see!
MPPP and Penang watch this space!

Who protects the public?

2010-05-27T03:30:00.001-07:00

Dear Dato' CPO

Reference is made to my telephone call to your office yesterday (26th May @ 9.30am) where I spoke to your secretary who has confirmed receipt of our two e-mails below (dated 20th & 21st May 2010). Sadly I would like to state the following in this follow up mail

A. Your Departments Actions have been Slow to investigate into this matter
i. Residents have made police reports on 19th & 20th May relating to the Flying Rock Incident.
ii. We from TBRA have written to you since 20th May 2010 relating to the same

* Your police have only on the 25th gone over to interview the home owner. Of which the repairs have already been undertaken (on the 21st by the Developer - telling the owner - "don't worry Auntie - we can settle this - pls do not make a Police Report"
* Your Police have not as yet called or to speak to the complainant of Police report Tg. Tokong/001266/10 who videod the event of the blasting of 19th May with the rock hitting the roof of house no. 172.

B. INEFFECTIVE OCS in the Tg. Tokong Police Station or Perhapd in the Entire State
i. Residents, have since November 2008 have made numerous Police Reports of Flying Rocks.
ii. Just in year 2010 - we have made Police Reports (with accompanying CD) since Feb 2010 showing flying rocks to you and to your Police Dept in
Tg. Tokong
iii. Latest Police Report given on 19th May with more CDs of video of flying rocks - and yesterday (26th May 2010) your Tg. Tokong Dept. calls us
up to ask for the Video CDs again.
iv. Totally ineffective or NO monitoring of the daily blastings (leading up to the 19th May incident) where
a. Busses, bikes and cars are seen passing the blast site even when the siren is sounding AND when the blast is set off (videos available)
b. Flying Rocks continue to land on homes (videos clips dated 12th, 17th & 19th May 2010 sent via CD vide Tg. Tokong Report No. 001266/10
clearly indicate as such)

Yet what we have is continuing Blasting resulting in Flying Rocks for nearly 2 years, thus showing that Blasting Guidelines are not being followed.

End Result - No Effective Action Perceived to have been taken by Our Police Department to monitor, CONTROL and guide the actions of the Blasting Contractor Vide the Blasting Permit as issued by the Police Department. The reasons are all up to conjecture why no such action has been taken against the errant blasting contractor of BOLTON Surin for all this time.

As such TBRA calls upon our Police Department through our CPO to: -
a. Withdraw the Blasting Permit issued to the Developer & Contractor of the BOLTON Surin Project UNTIL all matters pertaining to compliance to
blasting guideline and the EFFECTIVE monitoring & CONTROL of the irresponsible Developer is resolved. Failing which to NOT allow any further
Blasting permits to be issued at all.
b. To take Disciplinary Action against the Ineffective &/or Negligent OCS in the Tg. Tokong Police Station that has failed in his duties to provide a
duty of care to residents to ensure all Blastings by the Developers Contractor are carried out according to guideline as stated in the Blasting
Permit.
c. To arrest the persons responsible (of the Contractors engaged by BOLTON Surin's Developer) for Criminal Negligence for not comply with all
Blasting Guidelines which resulted in the Rock Blasting that occured on 19th May 2010 at @ 4.20pm causing a rock flying @ 500 feet to hit and
damage house along Jalan Chan Siew Teong
d. To take immediate action ensuring that the Police Department will be more effective in relation to serving the public which we believe is its
paramount reason for its existance. IN SHORT - START SERVING US, THE PUBLIC, BY JUST ENSURING OUR SAFETY. We believe that is
NOT too much to ask of our Police

Dato CPO - we do not need you to come into Chee Seng Gardens in a convoy of Cars & 4 Wheel Drives to dramatise to us residents that some sort of action (as done in Feb 2010 by yourself) is being done by you & your department, as clearly nothing came out of it Dato from that action you did in February 2010. Elementary, my Dear Dato' as the rocks kept flying and the incident of 19th May is stark evidence of it.

What we appeal to you is IMMEDIATE & EFFECTIVE action as mentioned above and a response to the affected residents (be it to us in TBRA or the complainants of the two Police Reports vide Tg. Tokong 001266/10 and 001268/10).

Should we not hear from you in the next few days &/or we do not see any action on the part of our Police Department to arrest the wayward & irresponsible actions of the Blasting Contractor and your ineffective OCS in Tg. Tokong, we will take it that you are not in a position to assist or perhaps you require assistance from your superiors in KL, and we will thus refer the entire matter to your superiors in Bukit Aman. We will also do & take whatever other actions that we deem fit & necessary to bring the sense of safety back to the residents in Chee Seng (in Particular) and Tg. Bunga (in general).

Thank you

George Aeria
Chairman
Tanjong Bunga Residents Association.

A stop work order at last!

2010-05-27T03:20:00.000-07:00

Dear YDP Pn Patahiyah

Finally we read in the SUN that MPPP has issued the Temporary Stop Work Order against the Earth Works Clearings in the Bolton Surin Project. If the Sun's report is accurate - it means that the Stop Work was issued late Tuesday (25th May) ie. 6 days after the blast and my first e-mail to all. Sadly this is just another example of how SLOW MPPP is and thus ineffective. Thus the acronymn for MPPP i.e. - Majlis Perbandaran Paling Perlahan.

May I remind the MPPP that it was your organisation that APPROVED this (Bolton SUrin) highly risky, questionable and dangerous project in 2006/7 on a Class III & Class IV hillslope AND thus it is your Legal, moral & ethical OBLIGATION to ensure that this project does NOT in any way put the residents lives at risk. Up to now, the occurances happening in Chee Seng (since 2008) show that MPPP has FAILED MISERABLY in this RESPONSIBILITY. You have failed us not only now but in a series of incidents since 2008 up till to date which thus CONFIRMS your ineffective role or ABILITY to monitor this project (and perhaps all other projects if this is a refection of your daily work and standards of work) to ensure existing residents safety which is very, very near a development project.

As such, TBRA and the "Chee Seng Gardens Action Committee Against Dangerous Hill Slope Development" now DEMAND to find out the following from our MPPP: -
a. Why has the project not been properly monitored over the many year to thus cause REPEATED cases of misery & danger (floods, dust, noise,
malaria, illegal foreign workers, night work, soil erosion run off, muddy flows into Sea & of course of Flying rocks) to residents?
b. Who is responsiible for this sad state of affairs (lack of proper monitoring) which has put us residents at risk of death and injury due to flying rocks
& other predicaments as mentioned above.
c. What Action will be taken against the irresponsible civil servants in the MPPP that have failed miserably in their duties. We in TBRA and the
residents in Chee Seng Gardens believe that there are elements of Gross Negligence in the manner they have carried out their duties and
demand that Disciplinary action be taken against them. Indeed the residents in Chee have indicated that they are willing to attend any Domestic
Inquiry against your errant officers to give evidence for any or all alledged negligence or Dereliction of duty.
d. What measures have been or will be taken to now safeguard the residents so that future blasting, if any more, is done under strict legal
guidelines and HOW can we be sure that strict and EFFECTIVE monitoring by our MPPP to ensure compliance by the developer. OR Perhaps
an order to STOP all further blasting and they can break those huge boulders with sledgehammers and pneumatic drills (below the hazardous
decible levels of course), so that the problem of flying rocks do not recur ever again

We, TBRA & the Chee Seng Gardens Action Committee Against Dangerous Hillslope Development, call upon our YDP to start responding to the residents directly via our correspondes (as you have not replied once) to the many shortcomings by our MPPP. Staying silent will NOT make the matter go away as has been practised by our MPPP over these many years. TBRA intends to take this matter to the very end. We assure you of our cooperation the minute we see your organisation:-
a. Start to engage the affected residents in a meaningful and EFFECTIVE manner, AND
b. Start to take measures that will control and irresponsible & wayward actions of the Developer of BOLTON SURIN

Finally, to our State Governement of Penang - TBRA formally anounces that as an organisation, we NOW CALL FOR all Councillors to the State's Municipal Councils be ELECTED directly by the people and should NO LONGER be appointed by the State Government. This, we firmly believe is the ONLY (and with the appointment of a fully independant & effective YDP) way that can change the effectiveness of our City/Municipal Council.

YDP, Pn Patahiya, We await earnestly for a response from you. Failing which we will organise further activities (including another round of Press coverage) to try to resolve the current unsatisfactory situation we have in Chee Seng (in particular) & Tg. Bunga (in general).

Thank you

George Aeria
Chairman
Tanjong Bunga Residents Association (TBRA)

New Coastal Park for Tanjong Bunga.

2010-05-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

The Tanjung Bunga Residents Association will be holding a launching party for the new Coastal Park at 10 a.m. on Saturday 05 June 2010. The meeting place is the entrance to The Cove in Tanjung Bunga. I think this represents a major victory in the fight against illegal development and congratulations are offered to the TBRA who's hard work seems to have finally paid off.

STOP WORK ORDER

2010-05-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

Issue ’stop work order’, Teh requests MPPP

Posted:
Tanjung Bunga state assembly member Teh Yew Cheu has written to the Penang Municipal Council on the Bolton Surin project. URGENT! FOR PUBLIC INTEREST AND SAFETY Based on the report and photos evident, my office hereby requests your office with immediate effect to put a “Stop work order” to the developer until investigation is completely done.

Rock blasting worries Tg Bunga residents

Posted:
Rock blasting at the Bolton Surin project site in Tanjung Bunga is unnerving residents in nearby Chee Seng Gardens. One of the rocks from the blasts and a damaged roof-tile This has prompted Tanjung Bunga Residents Association president George Aeria to once again write to leaders of the Penang state government and Penang Municipal Council: Today (19 May [...]

This is a summary only for more follow the link below.
http://anilnetto.com/development-issues/impose-stop-work-order-tg-bunga-adun-asks-mppp/

KABUL or Penang?

2010-05-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

Dear YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng, YB Phee, YB Chow, YB Teh & YDP Puan Patahiyah

Today (19th May 2010) again, Bolton Surin carried out their usual blasting and this time a large rock flew further than my house i.e. a full 500 feet, (my house is @ 400 feet from the blast site) hit the roof of my neighbour and broke it. I attach photographs of the broken roof and the rock piece that flew the distance

My Brother (David) has since lodge a Police Report (as attached), accompanying by a CD which has: -
a. 3 video clips of the blasting dated 12th, 17th and 19th May 2010. I have several more earlier dated clips of similar blasting
b. 5 photographs of the broken roof tiles and the piece of rock that flew the distance to hit the roof

My affected neighbour, which is 172 Jalan Chan Siew Teong (my house is 3 doors nearer to the hill i.e. 166) will be lodging a Police Report tomorrow morning as she is old and is awaiting the return of her son to assist.

These flying rocks are not something new. It has been happening for months but it has been quite serious in the last few weeks. I attach a copy of the Police Report as lodged by my brother and that he submitting to the police at the Tg. Tokong Police station.

In each video clip as provided to the Police (copies will come to your office very shortly) especially the one dated 17th & 19th, you will hear many stones & rocks (and a large one in the 19th May clip - i.e. the rock that hit the neighbour's roof) hitting the road & roofs. THis happens practically everyday at @ 3.30pm when they blast and we are at our wits end suffering the rock pieces falling everywhere. In fact the Contractors workers run all along the road to pick up rock pieces that fall on the road after every blast.

As the TBRA Chairman and a resident directly affected by the current blasting, I appeal, beg, cajoul, insist and demand that you take Bolton Surin to book and do your utmost to bring them under control. Sadly MPPP nor the Police nor the Geotech department are monitoring and controlling the Developer, Bolton Surin to undertake the blasting in a proper, controlled and safe manner. Do we REALLY Have to wait until someone dies BEFORE our State Government and Federal Government (i.e. Police & Geotech Dept in Kedah) Departments act. PLEASE HELP. YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO HELP AND I AM APPEALING.

We sent a similar video of a huge flying rock in Feb 2010 but as usual the Police (after some drama by coming to the site in a large convoy - just like MPPP in Sep 2008) they replied that we were mistaken. How outrageous a statement.

So I appeal to you & your state government to put out a permanent STOP WORK order so that your Government may review the measures that MUST be taken by the Developer on a daily basis to arrest the dangerous manner in which the blasting is being carried out. PLEASE Just issue the stop work order to force the developer into RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. (they are now doing totally exposed blasting on the vertical hill slope) We are not asking much JUST asking you to help us residents be safe and out of HARMS WAY which they the Irresponsible Developers are PUTTING ON US in their greed to finish fast and with no regard to the safety of residents

I await for your reply on the matter.

George Aeria
TBRA Chairman
Resident - 166, Jalan Chan Siew Teong, Chee Seng Gardens, Tg. Bunga
Registered Voter - Tg. Bunga

Letter to the Chief Minister of Penang.

2010-05-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

Dear YAB Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang
YB Chow Kon Yeow, YB Phee Boon Poh, YB Wong Hon Wai, State Executive Councillors
Tuan Hj. Zainuddin Bin Ahamad, Pengarah JPBD
Puan Patahiyah Bt. Ismail, YDP MPPP

A very good Morning to you,

On 17th April 2010, Tanjong Bunga Residents' Association (TBRA) together with the Batu Ferringhi Residents' Association (BFRA) successfully organised and held a Public Forum entitled - Overdevelopment On the North Coast. A total of over 150 participants attended at a hotel in Tg. Bunga. Many speeches were heard, discussions held and questions answered relating to, among others the following main issues: -
a. The overdevelopment & uncontrolled developement of Batu Ferringhi & Tg. Bunga
b. The continuing Dangerous Hill Slope Development on Class III & Class IV hill slopes in these two areas
c. The limitations of Tg. Bunga & Batu Ferringhi's infrastructure to the overdevelopment in the two areas occuring now.
d. Tg. Bunga secretly designated as in the Primary Corridor via the illegal amendment of the State Sturcture Plan by the Previous State Government
from Secondary to Primary status, thus allowing the current uncontrolled development taking place & the current reluctance of the current State
Government to amend & rectify this situation
e. Highlighting the numerous approved projects (six in total - amounting to more than 1000 units ) along the Bt. Ferringhi hillslope road which would destroy the Green scenery along the entire Tg. Bunga to Bt. Ferringhi stretch not to mention the serious soil erossion and subsequent sea
pollution
f. The views of a MM2H resident who shared that Penang is "killing" (or has killed) the "Goose that lays the Golden Egg' with it ongoing
Overdevelopment in these two areas & stressed that they as Foreigners want to see green & nature & not montrosities of concrete and mud
pollution thereafter in the seas.

Following up from all the matters discussed, the issues were then collated and summarised into a Forum Declaration which we now attach above (both in English and Bahasa Malaysia) together with a Summary of Events of the Forum itself, for your state government's review and attention. We hope that our state government, under our Chief Minister, the Town & Country Planning Department and our City Council will take heed of the comments of the public of Tg. Bunga & Batu Ferringhi relating to the ongoing Overdevelopment around our homes in the North Coast of Penang (specifically Tg. Bunga & Bt. Ferringhi) via the Forum Declaration

We would welcome an official response from our government relating to the situation highlighted via our Public Forum and the subsequent Forum Declaration that we are submitting to you today.

Thank you

George Aeria
Chairman
Tanjong Bunga Residents Association (TBRA)
(f) Chairman, Batu Ferringhi Residents Association (BFRA)

Forum Pengisytiharan

2010-05-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

FORUM PENGISYTIHARAN
OLEH TANJONG BUNGA RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (TBRA),
BATU FERRINGHI RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (BFRA)
& PESERTA‐PESERTA FORUM
Kami, Persatuan Penduduk Tanjong Bungah dan Persatuan Penduduk Batu Feringgi atau “Tanjong Bunga Residents’ Association, Batu Ferringhi Residents’ Association” dan peserta‐peserta forum yang bertajuk “ Pembangunan Terlampau di Pantai Utara” yang telah diadakan pada 17 April 2010 di Paradise Sandy Beach Hotel di Tanjong Bungah dengan ini mengisytiharkan bahawa:
1. Sempadan Tanjong Bunga bermula dari Jalan Gajah dan berakhir sebelum Desa Mar Vista Resort;
2. Tanjong Bunga berada di dalam Koridor Kedua dan diagram yang ditunjukkan dalam cetakan Pelan Struktur Negeri telah diubah oleh Kerajaan Negeri yang sebelum ini yang menunjukkan Tanjong Bunga dalam Koridor Utama; diagram tersebut dianggap tidak sah memandangkan ia telah diubah tanpa pengetahuan oleh Kerajaan Negeri sebelum ini melalui bekas Ketua Menteri tanpa merujuk perundangan sedia ada;
3. Butiran dan maklumat di dalam Pelan Struktur Negeri dengan jelas menyatakan bahawa Tanjong Bungah berada dalam Koridor Kedua dan telah melangkaui diagram yang telah diubah;
4. Kerajaan Negeri sekarang mempunyai hak perundangan dan kewajipan moral untuk membetulkan kesilapan yang ketara ini dan mengambil langkah‐langkah untuk memastikan Tanjong Bunga kekal di Koridor Kedua;
5. Pelan Tempatan Negeri yang bakal dikeluarkan mesti memasukkan dan menunjukkan dengan jelas yang Tanjong Bunga berada dalam zon Koridor Kedua; yang mengenakan had dan syarat‐syarat yang tegas untuk semua rancangan pembangunan di kawasannya;
6. Semua projek yang telah diluluskan dan yang belum dimulakan wajib dikaji semula terutama sekali dari segi kepadatan , kesesuaian dan sejajar dengan syarat Koridor Kedua;
7. Semua projek di masa akan datang di Tanjong Bunga dan Batu Ferringhi mesti memenuhi syarat dan tidak melebihi panduan kepadatan dalam Koridor Kedua;
8. Semua projek pembangunan sedia ada dan akan datang di Tanjong Bunga dan Batu Ferringhi harus mempertimbangkan keperluan atau had infrastruktur yang sedia ada dalam kedua‐dua kawasan ini;
9. Tidak meluluskan sebarang aktiviti pembangunan pada masa depan dari sekarang untuk semua projek pembangunan yang melibatkan cerun berbahaya Kelas III dan Kelas IV di Tanjong Bunga dan Batu Ferringhi;
10. Memastikan semua projek pembangunan pada masa akan datang TIDAK menyebabkan kemudaratan alam sekitar seperti gelonsoran tanah dan hakisan yang akan membawa kepada pencemaran laut dan pantai dan seterusnya memberi kesan yang ketara kepada penggunaan pantai dan tanah lapang, industri pelancongan dan program MM2H;
11. Memastikan TIDAK ada penambakan laut sepanjang Pantai Utara melainkan satu Laporan Kajian Alam Sekitar atau “ Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA)” dijalankan dan diluluskan oleh panel pakar (bukan hanya oleh Kerajaan Negeri atau Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang);
12. Sekurang‐kurangnya dua Taman Rekreasi awam diwujudkan untuk kemudahan awam; satu di Pearl Hill dan satu lagi di sebelah Penang Swimming Club; pelan untuk kedua‐dua taman awam ini telahpun diserahkan untuk diterima.
Kami,sebulat suara membuat semua Pengisytiharan di atas sebagai orang awam dan penduduk‐penduduk yang prihatin dan menyeru Kerajaan Negeri mengambil semua langkah yang sepatutnya untuk melaksanakan dan mengambil berat semua saranan di atas demi kepentingan awam.
Oleh
TBRA, BFRA & 140 PESERTA FORUM
Tanjong Bunga, 17 April 2010

NORTH COAST FORUM STATEMENT

2010-04-18T23:12:00.001-07:00

FORUM DECLARATION

BY TANJONG BUNGA RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (TBRA), BATU FERRINGHI RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (BFRA)
& FORUM PARTICIPANTS

We, the Tanjong Bunga Residents’ Association (TBRA), the Batu Ferringhi Resident’s Association (BFRA) & all participants of the Forum entitled “Overdevelopment on the North Coast” held on 17^th April 2010 at the Paradise Sandy Beach Hotel in Tanjong Bunga, do hereby declare that:

1. the border of Tanjong Bunga starts from Jalan Gajah and ends just before the Desa Mar Vista Resort;

2. Tanjong Bunga is in the Secondary Corridor and the diagram shown in the published State Structure Plan was wrongfully amended by the previous State Government to show Tanjong Bunga within the Primary Corridor; the diagram is to be considered null & void since it was changed secretly by the previous State Government via the then CM without following legal procedures;

3. the text in the State Structure Plan and the legend of the diagram clearly state that Tanjong Bunga is in the Secondary Corridor and take precedence over the changed diagram;

4. the present State Government has the legal authority and the moral obligation to rectify this glaring anomaly and to take all necessary measures to ensure that Tanjong Bunga remains in the Secondary Corridor;

5. the soon to be released State Local Plan must incorporate and clearly show Tanjong Bunga to be within the Secondary Corridor zone, which sets strict limits & requirements on all development projects;

6. all approved projects which have not commenced yet, are to be reviewed, esp. in terms of density, to be in line with Secondary Corridor requirements;

7. all future development projects in Tanjong Bunga & Batu Ferringhi must comply and not exceed the density guidelines of the Secondary Corridor;

8. all current and future proposed development projects in Tanjong Bunga & Batu Ferringhi must take into account the serious infrastructure limitations currently faced in these two areas;

9. that NO FURTHER approvals be granted henceforth for all dangerous hill slope development projects on Class III & Class IV hill slopes in Tanjong Bunga & Batu Ferringhi;

10. that all future development projects MUST NOT cause any environmental degradation such as soil erosion that leads to sea & beach pollution, thus severely affecting our local recreational use of beach & open space, the tourism industry & the MM2H programme;

11. that there be no land reclamation along the North Coast until and unless a comprehensive Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) is undertaken and approved by ad-hoc panel of experts (not only by the State Government or MPPP);

12. that at least two Public Recreational Parks be created for easy access by all: one on the top of Pearl Hill and the other on the rock pile, the so-called Sore Thumb, next to the Penang Swimming Club; plans for both these Public Parks have been submitted for gazetting.

We make the above Declaration as concerned citizens and residents of Penang and call upon our State Government to take all measures necessary to implement the above points in the public interest.

TBRA, BFRA & FORUM PARTICIPANTS

Tanjong Bunga, 17 April 2010

Press Release

2010-04-14T03:44:00.000-07:00

PRESS STATEMENT

Public Forum on Overdevelopment along the entire North Coast of Penang

Organised by Tanjong Bunga & Batu Ferringhi Residents’ Associations

There will be a Public Forum on Saturday, 17 April 2010 from 8.00pm to 11.00pm at the Paradise Sandy Beach Hotel to highlight Over Development and apparent Unplanned Development along Penang’s North Coast from Tg Tkong to Teluk Bahang.

The Press is invited to attend and hear what residents and NGO’s have to say about the mushrooming of high rise buildings, the savage hill cutting and spoiling of the beaches in Tanjong Bunga and Batu Ferringhi. It is obvious that the traffic situation is going from bad to worse and jointly we need to reflect and raise awareness about what can be done to preserve our environment and maintain a liveable community along the coast. State Government officials will be invited, not to give speeches but listen to the people. One exception, the ADUN for Tanjong Bunga, Y.B. Teh, will give the opening address.

Uncontrolled development has become a major concern initially to Tanjong Bunga and Tanjong Tokong residents but now even more to those living in Batu Ferringhi. They have recently created their own RA, the Batu Ferringhi Resident’s Association (BFRA) and have an active blogsite. In fact, all Penang residents who used to enjoy a ‘day out on the beach’ will be affected. Moreover, the trend toward Over & Uncontrolled development is likely to happen in the same manner in other districts of the State.

The main issues that will be highlighted and discussed at the Saturday night Forum are:

Zoning issues: Tanjong Bunga must be in the Secondary Development Corridor and deliberate but secret and illegal changes must be set right.
Traffic and other Infrastructure cannot cope, despite vague promises.
Beach encroachment, illegal reclamations – who benefits?
Dangerous Hill development on Class III & IV slopes – disasters in waiting
The Importance of the Local Plan in the proper development of Penang.

The Forum will point out the many inconsistencies of the past and current State governments relating to limits on density, construction projects on very steep hills and other uncontrolled developments. The eventual effects of such overdevelopment if not quickly resolved will be serious and far reaching.

***

For more information: tanjongbunga@yahoo.com or Lee Laine at 012-5811123, bfrapenang@gmail.com or Phil Langham at 017-5398867

Blogs: http://tanjongbunga.blogspot.com or http://bfrapenang.blogspot.com

NORTH COAST FORUM

2010-04-06T00:30:00.000-07:00

Cape of Flowers

2010-04-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Flower Cape !

By now everybody will have seen the huge mural painted on the wall across from the Tanjong Bunga Hotel. It was not just done because someone thought the wall was ugly and a Welcome would be nice. It is a message with flowers (bunga) to remind the State government that this is where Tanjong Bunga starts, not at Mar Vista !

Together with our State Assembly man, YB Teh, TBRA thought it had to remind the government and the MPPP that the official boundaries of Tanjong Bunga town start from Jalan Gajah (near the mural) and finish at the Mar Vista Resort whose official address is 1 Jalan Batu Ferringhi. Why would they not know? Why would they want to forget? Here is the story in brief.

When deciding on zoning the State, the previous government, by right, considered Tanjong Bunga to be a tourist zone and a residential area and placed it in the Secondary Development Corridor. So the wording of the 2005 Structure Plan put Tanjong Bunga into a green zone. When the Structure Plan was printed, the wording was still there but the diagrams illustrating the zones had been changed from green to orange. That meant Primary Development Corridor. That meant that by one stroke of a colouring pencil, the permissible density of our town had changed, allowing for all kinds of high rises and commercial buildings. Believe it or not, by the colouring, Tanjong Bunga starts at Mar Vista. And since Mar Vista is in Batu Ferringhi, Tanjong Bunga has been wiped off the map. It ceased to exist.

TBRA has protested against this for years, first nicely, then by way of lawyers’ letters and via top level meetings. Nothing doing. The State government, the MPPP, all refused to listen. So this flower mural was yet one other attempt to get our point across. In the last meeting with the head of Planning, TBRA asked if any of the staff remembered how the colouring happened. After some hesitation, they said that it was the former CM, Koh Tsu Koon himself, who personally instructed the staff to change the colour of Tanjong Bunga. Some twenty people in the room heard this, noted this and wrote it into the Minutes of that meeting.

The Minutes were sent out to all concerned starting with the very top, i.e. the current CM, and adding that since this was an illegal act, there should be a moratorium on all further plans handed in for approval. Not until the Structure Plan diagram is corrected, should any permit be given to start constructing one more condo. The answer to date? Silence. Silence is golden, they say, but there are times when silence pays rich dividends.

Welcome to Tanjong Bunga !

Join the Batu Ferringhi Residents Association

2010-03-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

Would you like to join?

Batu Ferringhi Residents Association

Enhancing our Community & Preserving our Environment

If you would like your voice to be heard on local issues or if you just want to keep up to date with what is happening in your area BFRA is the place for you.

Join now you can help shape the future of the BFRA

The aims of the Association:

· Bring together owners and residents of the North shore of Penang for the preservation · · of our environment
· Stand firm against continued over-development of the area and destruction of the hills
· Stop the illegal structures on our beaches so our children can enjoy them in safety
· Preserve the habitat of our local wildlife as a legacy for generations to come
· To champion members views on local issues
· Join with other local associations to press local government on issues that affect us all

And to be a community of friends and neighbours

This association needs YOUR help and support.

If you care about our area and our community come and have your say at meetings.

Visit the blog at http://bfrapenang.blogspot.com

Your views DO and WILL make a difference. Please feel free to comment and sign up to follow.

Share your ideas, skills and experience with us to make this a better and more effective organisations so we can improve our local environment and make it more enjoyable for all residents and visitors.

If you are interested to be a member please email to bfrapenang@gmail.com

SHARE THE PASSION TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT & COMMUNITY

Every Voice matters

Tanjong Bunga Forum

2010-03-13T00:48:00.000-08:00

Dear All.
The TBRA are pleased to announce ;
The TBRA Forum is set for Saturday 17 April 20.00 hrs 8 P.M.
The purpose of the Forum is to discuss the development issues of the North Coast of Penang.
Venue Paradise Sandy Bay Beach Resort.
please contact the TBRA at tanjongbunga@yahoo.com
All residents of the North coast of Penang are invited to attend.

Thanks best wishes Phil.

The Destruction continues daily!

2010-03-11T18:44:00.000-08:00

This is Island Bay Development by Ivory. The intent is to build tower blocks on this hill!

This is Moonlight Bay. A Blot on the landscape! By Ivory!
Resting for now on the side of a classIVhill slope
Both are “Located within the tourism enclave of Penang Island at BatuFerringhi” which is in the Secondary corridor
Of Rajhakasarof draft state structure plan
(Rajah 4.2 –RancanganStrukturNegeriP. Pinang 2005‐2020)KoridorTanjongBungha–TelokBahang. Merupakankoridorsediaadapelanconganyang telahdibangunkanpesatdenganperhotelanbertaraflima bintang. Pembangunan infill yang berketumpatanrendah–sederhanaakandibenarkanbagizonyang dikenalpastiuntukperumahanam (15 unit seekar), perumahanketumpatanrendah(6 unit seekar), pelanconganam/terhaddanperniagaan(nisbahplot 1:1), keindahansemulajadisepertipantaiperanginan, bukitbukaudanhutanakanterusdikekalkansebagaiasetutamapembangunandikoridorini. BagiTelokBahang, pembangunandesadanekolancongakandiberitumpuandenganTaman Negara PulauPinang sebagaititikfokalutama. Pembangunan perdagangantempatanyang akandigalakkanmerupakanativitisokongankepadapembangunanpelancongandikoridorini.
Malay to English translation By Google!
Corridor TanjongBungha‐TelokBahang. Corridor is the existing tourism has developed rapidly with five star hospitality. The low‐density infill development ‐will be allowed to moderate zones identified for housing am (15 units per acre), low density housing (6 units per acre), tourism pm / limited and business (the plot ratio of 1:1), the beauty of nature such as beaches resorts, mountains and forests will remain as a major asset in the development of this corridor. For TelokBahang, rural development and eco lancongwill be given focus with the Penang National Park as the main point. Development of local trade will be encouraged to support the tourism activities development in this corridor.

I fail to see how this monstrosity on the North shore of Penang supports tourism.