MPPP to study Belleview project complaints
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) will study complaints and issues raised by the Citizens Awareness Chant Group (Chant Group) who protested on Saturday against a 27-storey luxury suite project in Pulau Tikus.
Council president Datuk Patahiyah Ismail said the council would also look into concerns over parking problems at the market due to the construction work.
“We are looking into the matter,” she told Streets, but declined to comment further.
On Saturday, some 150 Chant Group members and residents held a 45-minute protest against the Moulmein Rise project at the market in Jalan Pasar.
The protestors, who wore T-shirts bearing the slogan No to Moulmein Rise, shouted their objections as cars passed by.
Chant Group adviser Yan Lee questioned how the project, which was being built on land previously used as an open parking space, could have been approved as the location was surrounded by homes.
He said residents had not received any notice from the council to voice their objections to the project, which is required under Section 21 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976.
Lee also wanted to know why the Traffic Impact Assessment report was not made public even though numerous requests had been made over the past year.
“Where is the Freedom of Information Act and CAT (competent, accountability, and transparent) from the state government in this matter? We have the right to know,” he said at the protest.
Meanwhile, K. K. Lim, 60, who lives opposite the construction site, said she was not served any letters seeking for her opinion or objection.
“Why was I not given the right to say yes or no to the project?
“I did not receive any letters from MPPP even though the project is on my doorstep,” she said.
Nor Sheila Mansor, 53, who works as a cashier at a cafe in Jalan Pasar, said business had dropped drastically over the last two months since the open car park was cordoned off.
“Our business dropped by 60 to 70 per cent, as many people chose to avoid this area completely.
The operator of Adam’s Famous Curry Puffs and Nasi Lemak stall in front of Sin Hup Aun coffee shop at the market said his business was also affected by the project.
The man, who only wanted to be known as Ady, 22, said he had to throw away 40 packets of nasi lemak as the demand had dropped, because of the worsening traffic congestion.
“I used to sell 1,000 curry puffs and 200 packets of nasi lemak daily.
“Now, I can only sell 700 curry puffs and 140 packets of nasi lemak,” he said.
Taman Berjaya resident K. Sundram, 56, who used to drive to the market for his daily marketing and breakfast, said it was impossible to find a parking space after the car park was closed.
“Now the council is clamping vehicles parked illegally, charging drivers a RM50 compound.
“I think MPPP should be more sympathetic since we have no place to park our cars anymore,” the retired accountant said.
Sundram, who was aware of the developer’s promise to provide 90 parking lots in the basement level of the project to replace the open car park, said MPPP should manage the new car park.
“If the basement car park is left to the council, then we can be assured that the parking rate will be reasonable, otherwise the rates may go up to RM3 or RM4. It could be even more expensive during the weekends,” he said.
Last month, the project developer, Belleview Group, assured the public that it would address their parking concerns by building a basement car park to replace the old open car park.
Managing director Datuk Sonny Ho had said that the parking charges would be reasonable. By Looi Sue-chern and Predeep Nambiar
Source: New Straits Times
