Nothing to review on PGCC: Guan Eng

Nothing to review on PGCC: Guan Eng
The Sun
The Sun - Friday, March 14

by Regina William and Llew-Ann Phang, Yahoo
ADVERTISEMENT

PENANG (March 13, 2008): Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said on Wednesday there is no need to review the controversial Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project as it had not been given any official approval in the first place.

He made the revelation after the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) and Town and Country Planning Department reported to him that the council had not given the green light to project developer Abad Naluri Sdn Bhd for the RM25 billion mega project.

"I was informed that not a single letter of approval was given for the project by any government agency, so it does not need a review," Lim said.

Asked by reporters if this meant that the project would be "cancelled", he said: "How can we cancel something that has not even been approved?"

Lim said he would take MPPP's assurances that the project was not approved at face-value and the council would not be blamed for the issue.

PGCC is slotted to be built on the 104ha Penang Turf Club that Abad Naluri bought for some RM488 million in 2002.

"According to the law, as long as the project has not been approved, it cannot be sold. I would say I'm happy with the state of affairs," Lim said, adding that everyone, including him, had been under the impression that the project was already approved when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched it in September last year.

"Unfortunately that was not so. The information was incorrect because not a single letter of approval was given to the developer by either the MPPP or the Land Office because it requires conversion," Lim added.

Meanwhile, affirming that the PGCC application was received, he said it is only fair that the state government does not deny the developer the normal approving procedure.

"The developer submitted an application, but the state government has yet to arrive at a final decision," said Lim, adding that the proposed project would have "my personal attention" and that he had directed the relevant parties to update him with a lot of discussions, considerations and letters with regard to the project.

On the tiered bouquet bearing a rocket sent by Abad Naluri on Tuesday, Lim said with a laugh: "Anybody can send flowers, but I was very surprised by it".

"Before the election we called for representatives to meet with the residents but they did not want to turn up. Now they are willing to send flowers, which is a departure from their previous attitude," Lim added.

Earlier, the PGCC Campaign Group, which has been lobbying against the project, had called on the new state government to conduct a thorough investigation into how the Penang Turb Club was re-zoned from open recreational land to mixed development for the PGCC project.

Ahmad Chik, spokesperson for the group said many groups and Penangites had submitted their comments against the proposal to re-zone the property when the Penang Draft Structure Plan was displayed a few years ago.

"Several years ago when the public were invited to give their comments on the Penang Draft Structure Plan, several groups and individuals submitted their views. To our knowledge everyone was against the proposal to re-zone the property.

"Yet, to our astonishment, in an act which was blatantly against public interest, the final plan showed the status of the land as �mixed development'.

"There was no explanation or justification given for the re-zoning," said Ahmad Chik, adding the PGCC Campaign Group wants the plan to be reviewed and unless there are compelling public interest reasons, the land should be reverted to its original status.

The group also offered their congratulations to the DAP, PKR and PAS for their convincing victory and also to Lim on his appointment as the state's fourth chief minister.

In an obvious sarcastic reference to the bouquet send by the management of Abad Naluri to Lim, Ahmad Chik added:

"We are not able to send a bouquet, but we hope that sincere good wishes from the hearts of the ordinary citizens who make up our membership will matter as much, if not more.

"The chief minister's first official statement gives us much to be happy about. A government that is transparent, honest and puts the interest of the people above that of private groups is what we have long been clamouring for.

"A new era is beginning and on behalf of the organisations and individuals who are in this group we offer our full cooperation and whole-hearted support.

"Our support is not only moral, but we are also prepared to commit our time, energy and skills," Ahmad added.