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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Penang Hill - The Consequences

While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions - Stephen R. Covey


In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are consequences - Robert Green Ingersoll

Anything you build on a large scale or with intense passion invites chaos - Francis Ford Coppola

Consequences are unpitying - George Eliot

You can do anything in this world if you are prepared to take the consequences - William Somerset Maugham

It's a different ball game these days, but you're never going to get rid of corruption as long as there's power and money - Bryan Brown

"It's Built On Private Land"

Moniot Road is named after a Frenchman, Michel Jules Moniot, who surveyed it between 1846 and 1855. Penang Hill has been a popular holiday retreat for the Mat Sallehs. Before the furnicular train (and later the Jeep Road), the only access up the hill was by horseback or by sedan chairs carried by coolies through Moniot Road. Later, the road was then tarred but then it was only for horse drawn carriages. It was abandoned when furnicular train was servicable in 1926.

This part of Moniot Road has always be a motorcycle lane since I came to know the trail in 1985. This road could not be suitable for modern day vehicles. Suddenly, sometime in Aug 2007, it was bulldozed. Picture below.

"It's built on private land", they said. How to believe if there is a signboard to prove otherwise?

Aug 2007

Oct 2007 - then they cemented it.

The Consequences You See Today

This tree is counting its day... if not for the Forest Reserve signboard, this tree would have long gone....

More consequences of building steep road on hilly terrain in my next chapter. When are they going to learn?

Toking Kok

During my childhood, my mother reared several chicken and a cock. The cock crowed each morning to wake us up. He led the hens on a parade out into the garden. And so he would be "toking kok"....with a kok kok here and a kok kok there and the rest of the hens will kek kek here and kek kek there....

Back to this environment issue in Penang Hill. I was surprised to read the article in the Star today (7 Sept 07) that the claims of building cemented road were not true. How much prove do toking kok want? Do this meant environmentalists and Friends of Penang Hill are all toking kok!


Then it was mentioned that only THREE trees were cut. Toking kok again!

Then bamboo trees had been planted to prevent erosion. More toking kok!

Indeed there were some upgrading (that we agreed and supported) - ie some resurfacing of the road, some clearing of bushes, maybe 3 trees were cut, maybe some bamboo were planted, but no bulldozing of the slope for a cemented road at TUNNEL ROAD at all.

All the toking kok are on the trail just at the rear end of the CANOPY WALKWAY (at Tunnel Road) down to Brothers' Bungalow! NOTHING to do with TUNNEL ROAD but somehow they are TOKING KOK about TUNNEL ROAD!

Map below showed the new construction for a new cemented road (ORANGE).

Please print the map and go and see for yourself. Tell me WHO is TOKING KOK!

Rape & Liar

Read this interesting story today(5 Sept, 2007) in the Star paper.

I quote,

"We also have to determine whether the road is ‘illegal positive’ or ‘illegal negative’,” he added".

And so, now you can illegally rape the hill to build any road as you wish, because any road should be "positive" as it helps in the transportation and communication, right?

Malaysia Boleh!

I have been there on several occassions but strangely today, there was not a soul at the "illegal positive" road. Not even the bulldozer, tractor, lorry and cement mixer. All traces of the evidence were hidden from sight. The contractor was probably tipped-off by someone from the interview.

Picture of the bulldozer taken before Sept 5, 2007.

Read my emails exchange here.

Lie No 1:
On the 8th Aug 2007 the Director of Forestry Penang replied:
To be make sure all activities out side our Forest Reserved, we already engage land surveyer and within 2 weeks we can get the results on it. If that activities clasiffied under enchrochment , we will bring to the court under National Forestry Act.

In The Star today 5th Sept 2007:
After being alerted to the allegations of illegal construction in the Bukit Kerajaan Reserve Forrest, he said a survey would have to be done to investigate the claims. “We will investigate the matter if we have sufficient funds.

Lie No 2:
In The Star today 5th Sept 2007:
When contacted, Forestry Department director Samsudin Salleh denied receiving the complaint. “We have received a different complaint about the loss of biodiversity in the reserve area. However, it was determined that the area was privately owned,” he said.

His reply to my email of 8th Aug 2007 proved otherwise:

From : <samsudin@penang.gov.my>
Date : Aug 8, 2007 5:38 PM
Thank for your comment. Forestry Department observed that all kind of activities done in Owner land not in Forest Reserved. That why, I cannot take any legal action on damaging , cutting or chopping the tree in owner land. To be make sure all activities out side our Forest Reserved, we already engage land surveyer and within 2 weeks we can get the results on it. If that activities clasiffied under enchrochment , we will bring to the court under National Forestry Act.TQ


Maybe Kayveas can say this, "I didn't say he is a liar, I say he is like a liar".

Adapted from:

‘Saya tak cakap dia monyet, saya cakap dia macam monyet’ - Kayveas, PPP president in parliament addressing the opposition but refused to apologize.

Penang Canopy Walk - July 2007

Good News - The Penang Canopy Walkway was reopened on July 15.

Entrance is now RM5 per adult and RM3 per child.

The walkway, 327m above ground level, was built by the Public Works Department (JKR) and opened to the public in October 2002. It was misteriously closed in September 2005 siting the termite problems. Now, it seemed the JKR had been consulted to rectify the situation and had ensure the walkway was safe. Penang Tourism authority said the work was carried out 8 to 9 months ago to strengthen the ropes and certain connective points.

"Its SAFE"! But why was it not safe for the last 2 years???

The man on the left could have instrumented the reopening.

Do you know who is manning the canopy now? Its the man!

A concerned Penangite wrote to the STAR to question about the safety.

Nothing was seen to indicate repair work was done.

This is what it looks like today.

The starting point of the canopy walkway.

Nothing new.

I don't see any traces of termite.

On closer look at one of the tree, I could see that there wasn't any

indication of repair works- not even new ropes as was reported in

the newspaper.

Extracted from Star (Jul 2, 07) :- "Work was carried out eight to nine months ago

to strengthen the ropes and certain connective points,” ...

Look carefully - I don't see the layer of wooden blocks being loosen

for the tree to expand...as you can see the leaves litter and cobweb.
FYI, I have seen many canopy walkways being repaired.

You can see signs of work if repairs or maintenances are done.

The extended horizontal wooden beams were coated

with lichens. They were never replace.

Even the ropes are not new - being exposed to natural elements.

Are they safe?



This was the only sensible work I saw during my visit there.
The wooden flooring being expanded to accomodate the
growing tree trunk.



This picture was taken in Dec 2006.

The statement that repair works was done "8 to 9 months ago" was made on 17 Jul 07.

Canopy walkway reopened on 15 Jul 07.

Eight months before 17 Jul 07 should be 17 Nov 06.

So how can a picture taken on mid Dec 2006 still shows no sign of work???

Check my Dec 2006 blog here http://forestexplorers.blogspot.com/2006/12/penang-canopy-walkway-update-december.html

The bull must be shitting!

<<<<<<<<<<Flash Back - Before Closure in 2005>>>>>>>>>>>>

Is this the reason for the closure?