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Thursday, March 12, 2015

Penang govt answers RM3 million question

Exco Chow denies that the money was given for being lenient with a developer who flattened a historical building.
mppp png 2GEORGE TOWN: The state government has rejected claims that the planning permission for a new mega project was approved on the site of a demolished historical mansion in return for the developer’s RM3 million contribution to the State Heritage Fund (SHF).
In approving it, the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) rescinded its original order to the developer to rebuild the Khaw Sim Bee Mansion because the 19th century building does not come under any heritage listing.
According to Chow Kon Yeow, the state executive councillor who is in charge of local government, traffic management and flood mitigation, the developer Tropika Klassik Development Sdn Bhd, contributed the RM3 million “about two or three years ago.”
The application for planning permission on a new project to build high-rise mega condominiums was approved on November 11, 2014.
Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow and Penang Citizens Awareness Chant Group (Chant) have raised suspicion on whether the developer’s contribution was a special arrangement to waive the rebuilding order issued earlier.
Teng has called on the DAP-led Pakatan Rakyat state government and MPPP to come clean on whether they bowed to threats by Tropika Klassik.
Chow has said that the developer had refused to rebuild the mansion and even threatened to tear it down after rebuilding it if forced to do so.
“Was there a special arrangement made with the developer from complying with an order to rebuild the mansion which the developer had demolished?” asked Teng in a statement here today.
The iconic Khaw Sim Bee Mansion was demolished illegally by Tropika Klassik, a subsidiary of the Mah Sing Group, in September 2010.
The developer was fined RM6,000 in court for the illegal demolition.
The council did not appeal to the court to impose a higher fine after its proposal was shot down by the deputy public prosecutor’s office.
The council issued the order to rebuild in February 2011, only to rescind it recently.
Council president Patahiyah Ismail, who was present at the press conference, said the order to rebuild the mansion would lapse automatically once approval was given for the new project planning permission.
She said the approval was given only after the developer had adhered to all terms and conditions.
She said the demolition of Khaw Sim Bee Mansion was allowed because it was located outside the city heritage zone and was not listed under Categories 1 and 2 of heritage buildings in the state.
Teng said the state government had set a bad precedent by bowing to threats and allowing special arrangements made by developers.
Effectively, he said the state government was not protecting or safeguarding the people’s interests against financially strong developers.
Describing the fiasco as “Khaw Sim Bee Mansion Scandal”, Teng called on the DAP government to clarify the following:
Was there a special arrangement for the developer not to appeal for higher fine to the court? The state government and MPPP had lied to the people about going to court for a higher fine.
Was the alleged RM3 million contribution by the developer to SHF a special arrangement to waive the rebuilding order issued earlier?
How could MPPP become completely powerless as a planning authority? Has the state planning committee (SPC) chaired by the Chief Minister usurped the power of the local authority in deciding planning issues?

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