Penang Watch

Teng: Rezoning does not restrict other plans
Himanshu Bhatt

GEORGE TOWN (May 16, 2008): The disputed change in zoning by the former state administration on land privately earmarked for the Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project does not restrict other plans or ideas from being implemented in the area.

Former state local government committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan refuted claims by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng that the developer had been given leeway due to alteration in zoning from "open space and recreation" to "new development".

"New development can mean any development," Teng, who is also Gerakan vice-president, told a press conference in Wisma Gerakan here today.

"The state government still has the final say on what type and scale of development that can be allowed which will determine the value of the land ultimately."

"The developer can submit the sky. You can still say no."

Lim had asked his predecessor Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Teng to explain why the former administration had changed the zoning status when the Penang State Structure Plan was gazetted in June last year.

Teng replied that the change was for the general future development requirements of the state, and not to accommodate the PGCC.

"The previous state government has in actual fact rejected and has asked the developer to amend the plan," he stressed.

Teng asked if the new government will consider allowing new development at the site.

"Will the new state government give priority to affordable housing at the project site for the benefit of the people?" Teng added. "Or approve in total, the development proposal which the CM has projected it to worth a whopping RM25 billion?"

He stressed that the RM25 billion figure Lim has attributed as the value of development on the land was based on valuation made by the developer for the PGCC project.

"Are you saying you are going to approve in toto all that the developer had submitted?"

Teng also asked if Lim was aware that a planning bargain could be arranged with the developer to reach an amicable agreement on the site’s development "as a way out".