Group told Penang Government: Use Tougher Law Against Hill Wreakers

Its never too late to voice opinion. And now activists urge Penang authorities to also blacklist errant developers.

 

GEORGE TOWN: Several civic groups here have demanded that authorities use the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) against real estate developers who destroy hills, saying the Streets, Drainage and and Building Act (SDBA) is too lenient. About a dozen organisations and several individual activists passed a resolution to that effect at a meeting here today.

 

They also resolved to appoint a delegation to meet state and local authorities over the issue and to pressure them to blacklist companies found guilty of illegal hillside clearance. The meeting was occasioned by a recent court case in which General Accomplishment Sdn Bhd was fined RM30,000 under the SDBA for causing destruction to Bukit Relau. The SDBA provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000, but the Sessions Court judge in the case said he had decided on a lesser amount because it was the company’s first offence. The groups that endorsed today’s resolution included Penang Forum, Penang Heritage Trust, Malaysian Nature Society, Penang Consumer Protection Association, Residents Association of Jesselton, Sungai Ara Residents Association, Tanjung Bungah Residents Association, Pykett Residents Group, Taman Sri Nibong Residents Association, Bayan Bay Residents Association and Penang Citizens Awareness Chant Group. They want the authorities to frame a new charge under the TCPA against General Accomplishment, its directors and executives.

They pointed out in a press statement that the TCPA would be more effective as a deterrent since it provided for a maximum fine of RM500,000 and a two-year jail term. Furthermore, unlike the SDBA, it provides for the punishment of the directors and executives of the offending company.

 

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Hill-cutting blamed for flash floods

Population is the root cause. Hill-cutting is to support the increasing population. Very interesting idea in the news below by former PBA engineer Kam U-Tee.

BTW, who shall we blame? Man for hill-cutting or God for population explosion?What is your comment?

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Friday October 24, 2008
Staronline
By CHRISTINA CHIN

GEORGE TOWN: Hill-cutting and development of valleys on the island are the main cause of the recent flash floods in Ayer Itam and its surrounding areas.

Water resources expert Datuk Kam U-Tee said the floods were caused by conversion of the Paya Terubong and Bayan Baru valleys into “concrete aprons that do not retain water.”

“The water immediately flows into the streams causing flash floods even with moderate rainfall.

“Because of hill-cutting activities, the flowing water causes erosion of the slopes which carries mud and silt into the river beds,” said Kam, who was Penang Water Authority general manager for 17 years until he retired in 1990.

Dredging the river is not a permanent solution, he said, adding that the floods could not have been caused by water released from the nearby Air Itam Dam.

“In some countries, developers are required to include retention ponds and underground water tanks to allow release of water more evenly.

“Developers encroaching onto river flood plains, which are natural flood retention features, cause a faster flow but with reduced cross sections,” he said.

Last week, Sungai Air Itam overflowed its banks causing floods in surrounding areas including Air Putih, Hye Keat Estate and Taman Lumba Kuda.

It was described as among the worst floods in 20 years.

Kam said many did not realise that the dam comprised of less than one quarter of the total Sungai Air Itam catchment area.

Penang plans to introduce several flood-mitigation methods including retention ponds, bunds and higher dam walls.