Remember this ugly arch?
Remember the ugly arch in Botanic Gardens? How they built and then destroyed? Remember how they wasted taxpayers’ money? Its because we were silent then. So, not to repeat the same mistake again, I hope you Penang lang “Speak Now Or Forever Lose Your Peace”. You can goto Komtar 3rd floor or the Botanic Gardens to see the exhibited draft plan. Yes, less than a month to do so. Let me run you through the draft plan open for comments and objections until 16 February 2012.
Key Proposals (My comments in bracket)
1. Visitors Centre – located at the entrance of the PBG (OK for me).
2. Conservation and Propagation Centre – located beside bambusetum, opposite Moon Gate (OK for me).
3. Herbarium – the old admin office (OK for me).
4. Kampung Garden – the squatter with the PAS flags (OK for me).
5. Secret Gardens – now the Japanese Garden (OK for me).
6. Malaysian Boulevard and Garden – the shooting club that will be demolished for this new building (NO. If you are going to chase the shooting club out, then why the waste to demolish. The building can use for the proposed “fine-dining” as in Key Proposal No 9 - Natural Amphitheatre).
7. Floral Garden – the quarry garden (Already a garden. Just put more floral. I don’t see anything worth mentioning).
8. Tree Top Walk – between Mt Olivia and a high point west (NO. Wrong site for this Tree Top Walk – Reasons - 1. Steep slope to reach Mt Olivia which will demand new path to the top. A new path to reach the top which will damage the fragile flora & fauna. Erosion, safety problem, ecosystem damages are some of the problem i can visualized now. 2. If revenue is what you have stated in your objective, then this is the wrong site as it is too far and deep inside the garden. This type of activity will only attract adventurous tourists if it is too difficult to access. A white elephant in the making? 3. You should compare the Treewalk with the one in Sidim. The one is Sidim is OKU friendly. Why is this one unOKU friendly? 4. Suggest to place it near Moon Gate to get the maximum benefit).
9. Natural Amphitheatre – behind Quarry Park, a new building to accomodate fine-dining restaurants and facilities (NO. Why waste money building a large facility which the garden don’t have enough man power to cope. The aim of Botanic Gardens is to promote natural heritage and not fine dining. Beside there will not be enough parking space if there is too a big crowd. Is the carrying capacity adequate?)
10. Nature Trails – four main trails be developed (Trails already there, what is there to develop if people are not going to use it. The curtis trail was developed once but eventually neglected. Why waste money on something which adventurous people don’t mind trekking in overgrowth trail?)
11. Access and Circulation – shall be turned into a “traffic-free” garden (Traffic-free? Then the big open space car park should be planted with trees. Unless there is no access road to Penang Hill, then i think this “traffic-free” will be difficult to implement).
There is no online objection at the moment. It is a disgrace to Penang. At the opening ceremony, I approached CM and asked about this online submission. His usher quickly said there is an online submission and that I should ask the reception at the desk. But I told this usher I have already asked. Then he tried to give stupid reason. Finally, CM said by right there should be an online submission. And CM thanked me for telling him. He shook my hand (first time he put up his hand to shake hand hehehe). I suspect the usher is trying to push to implement the project without caring about people objections. So guys, make sure you make some objections.
This draft plan is to be submitted to Tourism Ministry. That means it will be a federal project. And as you know, somebody up there will be making alot of commission while we Penangites will be taken for another ride. I think our state government is too greedy for the free funding until they forget about our natural heritage. State govt already spent RM688k for this stupid draft. They are going to turn Botanic Gardens into a theme park and whatnot. All Penangites should go and make some objections to the gardens or FOREVER HOLD YOUR TONGUE!
If you are not around before 16 Feb 2012, then try to goto this website HERE to view the draft. Then email your objections or comments to all of them:- chandra@penang.gov.my, fakhrurazi@penang.gov.my and nazrina@penang.gov.my
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January 20, 2012
Star
A TREE-TOP walk and a new visitors centre are among the proposals in the Penang Botanic Gardens Special Area Plan (SAP) draft which is now available for public viewing.
The public can view the draft at Komtar’s Level Three and also at the Penang Botanic Gardens Department at the gardens from 9am to 4.30pm daily until Feb 15.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng urged stakeholders and the public to provide feedback on the draft which, among others, also proposed a conservation and propagation centre and the expansion of the existing herbarium.
Among the other key proposals are a Kampung Garden with a typical Malay village theme, a secret garden, a Malaysiana boulevard and garden, a floral garden, a natural amphitheatre and nature trails.
“This draft was prepared by experienced, local experts in six months and studies were completed at the end of last year,” Lim said in his speech during the launch of the publicity and public participation of the draft on Wednesday.
He said the state government had allocated RM688,878 last year for the preparation of the SAPs for the gardens and Penang Hill.
“The state wants to ensure that a comprehensive proposal is presented to important quarters, including non-governmental bodies, to obtain the best blueprint for the proposed development of the gardens before any construction work,” he said.
It has also been proposed under the SAP draft that the Penang Rifle Club be relocated for the development of an eco-friendly garden convention and activity building.
Lim said there had been plans for the club’s relocation but consultation would be carried out with the club authorities and its patron, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas.
“Other projects that were identified include a bambusetum and the upgrading of the existing buildings,” he added.
In his speech, Penang Town and Country Planning director Zainuddin Ahamad said that following the public viewing of the draft, there would be inquiries to take into consideration the views from the public. For more information, call 04-2260713.
Key Proposals (My comments in bracket)
1. Visitors Centre – located at the entrance of the PBG (OK for me).
2. Conservation and Propagation Centre – located beside bambusetum, opposite Moon Gate (OK for me).
3. Herbarium – the old admin office (OK for me).
4. Kampung Garden – the squatter with the PAS flags (OK for me).
5. Secret Gardens – now the Japanese Garden (OK for me).
6. Malaysian Boulevard and Garden – the shooting club that will be demolished for this new building (NO. If you are going to chase the shooting club out, then why the waste to demolish. The building can use for the proposed “fine-dining” as in Key Proposal No 9 - Natural Amphitheatre).
7. Floral Garden – the quarry garden (Already a garden. Just put more floral. I don’t see anything worth mentioning).
8. Tree Top Walk – between Mt Olivia and a high point west (NO. Wrong site for this Tree Top Walk – Reasons - 1. Steep slope to reach Mt Olivia which will demand new path to the top. A new path to reach the top which will damage the fragile flora & fauna. Erosion, safety problem, ecosystem damages are some of the problem i can visualized now. 2. If revenue is what you have stated in your objective, then this is the wrong site as it is too far and deep inside the garden. This type of activity will only attract adventurous tourists if it is too difficult to access. A white elephant in the making? 3. You should compare the Treewalk with the one in Sidim. The one is Sidim is OKU friendly. Why is this one unOKU friendly? 4. Suggest to place it near Moon Gate to get the maximum benefit).
9. Natural Amphitheatre – behind Quarry Park, a new building to accomodate fine-dining restaurants and facilities (NO. Why waste money building a large facility which the garden don’t have enough man power to cope. The aim of Botanic Gardens is to promote natural heritage and not fine dining. Beside there will not be enough parking space if there is too a big crowd. Is the carrying capacity adequate?)
10. Nature Trails – four main trails be developed (Trails already there, what is there to develop if people are not going to use it. The curtis trail was developed once but eventually neglected. Why waste money on something which adventurous people don’t mind trekking in overgrowth trail?)
11. Access and Circulation – shall be turned into a “traffic-free” garden (Traffic-free? Then the big open space car park should be planted with trees. Unless there is no access road to Penang Hill, then i think this “traffic-free” will be difficult to implement).
There is no online objection at the moment. It is a disgrace to Penang. At the opening ceremony, I approached CM and asked about this online submission. His usher quickly said there is an online submission and that I should ask the reception at the desk. But I told this usher I have already asked. Then he tried to give stupid reason. Finally, CM said by right there should be an online submission. And CM thanked me for telling him. He shook my hand (first time he put up his hand to shake hand hehehe). I suspect the usher is trying to push to implement the project without caring about people objections. So guys, make sure you make some objections.
This draft plan is to be submitted to Tourism Ministry. That means it will be a federal project. And as you know, somebody up there will be making alot of commission while we Penangites will be taken for another ride. I think our state government is too greedy for the free funding until they forget about our natural heritage. State govt already spent RM688k for this stupid draft. They are going to turn Botanic Gardens into a theme park and whatnot. All Penangites should go and make some objections to the gardens or FOREVER HOLD YOUR TONGUE!
If you are not around before 16 Feb 2012, then try to goto this website HERE to view the draft. Then email your objections or comments to all of them:- chandra@penang.gov.my, fakhrurazi@penang.gov.my and nazrina@penang.gov.my --------------
January 20, 2012
Star
A TREE-TOP walk and a new visitors centre are among the proposals in the Penang Botanic Gardens Special Area Plan (SAP) draft which is now available for public viewing.
The public can view the draft at Komtar’s Level Three and also at the Penang Botanic Gardens Department at the gardens from 9am to 4.30pm daily until Feb 15.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng urged stakeholders and the public to provide feedback on the draft which, among others, also proposed a conservation and propagation centre and the expansion of the existing herbarium.
Among the other key proposals are a Kampung Garden with a typical Malay village theme, a secret garden, a Malaysiana boulevard and garden, a floral garden, a natural amphitheatre and nature trails.
“This draft was prepared by experienced, local experts in six months and studies were completed at the end of last year,” Lim said in his speech during the launch of the publicity and public participation of the draft on Wednesday.
He said the state government had allocated RM688,878 last year for the preparation of the SAPs for the gardens and Penang Hill.
“The state wants to ensure that a comprehensive proposal is presented to important quarters, including non-governmental bodies, to obtain the best blueprint for the proposed development of the gardens before any construction work,” he said.
It has also been proposed under the SAP draft that the Penang Rifle Club be relocated for the development of an eco-friendly garden convention and activity building.
Lim said there had been plans for the club’s relocation but consultation would be carried out with the club authorities and its patron, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas.
“Other projects that were identified include a bambusetum and the upgrading of the existing buildings,” he added.
In his speech, Penang Town and Country Planning director Zainuddin Ahamad said that following the public viewing of the draft, there would be inquiries to take into consideration the views from the public. For more information, call 04-2260713.
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