By Farah Wahida:
Amid claims of being overdeveloped, Penang’s infrastructure is insufficient to serve the needs of its population, which is expected to grow by two million in 2020, according to Datuk Jerry Chan, Chairman of Real Estate and Housing Development Association (REHDA Penang).
“Penang’s overall development is no less rapid but where are the roads, traffic dispersal systems, public transportation systems and outer ring roads?” he told The Sun Daily.
The statement is in response to Penang UMNO Information Chief Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya’s claim that the Pakatan Rakyat-led government is overdeveloping the island, forcing residents to live on Seberang Prai at the mainland.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng also countered the claim, saying many of the developments including hillslope projects were approved by the previous Barisan Nasional-led administration in the 1990s.
Chan urged the state government to adopt a balanced approach in implementing hillslope projects. He noted, however, that the government should also “respect the sanctity of agreements” in relation to their approval.
“It is their (government) right to reject approvals but they have to respect the agreements. Otherwise, there will be a state of lawlessness.”
Farah Wahida, Editor of PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories email farahwahida@propertyguru.com.my
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