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Penang’s sanctity disrespected

  • Publication Date | April 20, 2015
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Development & Planning
  • Issues | Development, Urban Development
  • Tags | Botak Hill, concrete island, conversion of hill, Penang, State Planning Committee
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The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) are disappointed with the Penang State Planning Committee (SPC) chaired by the Chief Minister for approving conversion of hill reserve land to residential zones.  In addition to this the State has also announced several other massive projects. We view that the State is not respecting the sanctity of the hills and other natural resources in Penang by pushing for colossal development on the island.

The conversion of Bukit Relau or popularly known as “Botak Hill” due to its bald hill top is not the only gazetted Hill Land converted for housing development. Among others, there have been cases of conversion in Sungai Ara, Paya Terubong, Sungai Batu near Bayan Lepas and the hill range at Bukit Gambier has been similarly affected.  Recently an assemblyman took the state government to task for approving a 51-storey high-rise project on a hillslope near the Tunku Abdul Rahman University College in Tanjung Bungah.

CAP and SAM have been calling for development to be restricted in hill zones because the ecosystems in the hills are particularly fragile and play important roles in sustaining life.  The highlands are environmentally sensitive and important water catchment areas.  They are particularly vulnerable to soil erosion due to their steep slopes and the heavy rainfall that we have been experiencing lately will increase incidences of soil erosion and floods.  

Sadly, the Penang government comes up with more new infrastructure projects such as the newly proposed Light Rail Transit project, new expressways, the undersea tunnel and the latest ludicrous proposal of a 3km mainland-to-island cable car project. Now the Chief Minister backtracks and says the proposed Sky Cab is a tourism product, not a public transport system.  Do we even need these expensive projects and are they feasible or economically viable? 

The State seems to be living in a dreamland thinking that such mega projects will be feasible for the island whereas till now no study on the island’s carrying capacity has been reported.  Wouldn’t a bus rapid transit system with dedicated bus lanes and giving importance to pedestrians and cyclists serve the purpose of moving people?

Is the government even thinking of the cumulative environmental impacts and socio-economic impacts due to the displacement of people living around the affected areas?  Several reclamation projects such as the Seri Tanjung Pinang 2 in Tanjung Tokong and along south-east coast of the island will also threaten the livelihood of coastal fishermen due to loss of fishing area. 

In its pursuits of iconic development, the Penang State Government has failed to preserve the natural heritage of the island. We call upon the State Government to stop converting gazetted hill land for other development purposes.  The state should be vying to be “Greenest Island City on Earth” and not “Concrete Island”.

S.M. Mohamed Idris

President

CAP & SAM

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Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
Chee Yoke Ling
Chee Yoke Lingstudent of SAM, Executive Director of Third World Network, SAM’s sister organisation

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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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