GEORGE TOWN, March 3 — Penang Gerakan today demanded full transparency from the state in its planned reclamation project at the Gurney Drive seafront, noting that any development there would affect those staying along the stretch.

The party’s state youth chief Hng Chee Wey noted that the project involves 131 acres of reclaimed land and that only 60 acres will be used for the proposed Gurney Wharf.

"There is still the remaining 71 acres of reclaimed land so we want to know what they plan to do with this land," he told a press conference at Gurney Drive today.

Hng said he is supportive of the proposed park-in-the-city concept for the 60 acres and has no intention to oppose it, but reiterated that the public must know what the state plans to do with the remaining 71-acre plot.

"Every Penangite has a right to know the overall plans for the whole 131 acres of reclaimed land under Phase 2A of Sri Tanjong Pinang reclamation project," he said.

He said he believes the Gurney Wharf project may only be the “sugar coating” to the state’s plans for the 131 acres.

"Any unexpected unpleasant plans against the interest of the people for the remaining 71-acre land in future will be too late for the people to protest after they have reclaimed the land and proceeded with the Gurney Wharf project," he said.

Hng also proposed a public viewing for the project to garner feedback.

He also asked for details from the state on what it has planned for the 23.93 acres of government reserve land located in front of Paragon Mall, noting that this is earmarked in the proposed Gurney Wharf project map.

"This means the park only makes up about 36 acres while 24 acres are state reserve land," he said.

Hng was responding to the recently announced My Gurney Wharf project, which will be created on land to be reclaimed by Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd (TPD), and will feature a seaside retail food and beverage area, water gardens, a man-made beach and a coastal grove alongside an eight-lane highway.