The DAP-led Penang state government needs to give a proper timeline as to when the Penang Island Masterplan will be completed. This Masterplan has been delayed for too long, raising concerns that development on the island has become increasingly unregulated.

This delay by the Penang Island City Council in creating the local Masterplan has led to dissatisfaction among non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community groups.

This Masterplan is crucial as it determines the future development density of various areas on Penang Island and outlines development projects for each district over the next decade. However, ever since the Pakatan Harapan administration took office in 2008, Penang Island has yet to produce an updated Masterplan.

The situation worsened after the Penang City Council released a draft of the 2030 Penang Island local plan in October 2022, which faced heavy criticism for placing schools in the middle of the sea and excluding heritage buildings in George Town.

This indicates how negligent the Penang state government is. Even after Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow canceled the draft 2030 Penang Island local Masterplan last July, a new local Masterplan has still yet to be issued.

It is incomprehensible as to why the Penang state government continues to delay planning of the Penang Island local Masterplan. Is there a hidden agenda? Is it being implied that minus a local plan, the Rocket can arbitrarily rocket through any plans on Penang Island without adhering to local guidelines and policies?

The Penang state government needs to clarify how much longer it will take to produce the local Masterplan for Penang Island.

The local Masterplan is meant to impose restrictions on Penang Island’s development for the next 5 to 10 years. Without these restrictions, does it mean that the state government can execute as it pleases, carrying out development plans on Penang Island without consulting the public?

MCA Penang also calls on the Penang state government to release the revised local Masterplan as soon as possible for public review and feedback.

Datuk Tan Teik Cheng
MCA Penang State Liaison Committee Chairman
MCA Vice President

4 September 2024

-MCA  Comm-