GEORGE TOWN, July 10 — Penang Gerakan called on the Penang state government today to blacklist developers found involved in the illegal clearing of forest or hills.
Penang Gerakan secretary Oh Tong Keong said the move would serve as a deterrent to prevent others from doing the same.
“Taking the errant companies to court under existing laws seems inadequate as a deterrent to prevent unscrupulous people from ‘raping’ our beautiful hills,” he said.
He was referring to recent allegations that another hill, Bukit Kukus in Paya Terubong, was also illegally cleared, similar to the illegal clearing of Bukit Relau.
“Besides the errant company, the directors should also be banned from participating in any future development in Penang.
“This move can effectively curb raping of our hill lands,” Oh said in media statement released today.
He said Section 70A (1) of Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, which is too lenient as “it is like a drop of water in the ocean for developers”.
He pointed out that the illegal clearing of Bukit Relau in Relau and Bukit Kukus in Paya Terubong by developers proves that the current legislation was no longer sufficient to curb illegal clearing of Penang’s forests.
“The Penang Island Municipal Council should refer to Section 19 of Town and Country Planning Act 1976 to prosecute those irresponsible developers and apply Section 26 (1) from the same Act, which has a provision of a maximum fine of RM500,000, two years imprisonment, or both,” he suggested.
He added that Section 52A under the same Act also states that the company’s director, manager, secretary or other similar staff, should be held accountable.
On the recent Bukit Kukus issue, he demanded that the state government issue a stop work order and direct the developer to rehabilitate the land.
“I understand from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that Penang is now left with about 15 per cent of forests and only 9 per cent are classified as reserved forests,”
“The government is responsible to protect the ecological needs, especially the endangered species,” he said.
Oh suggested that the state government call for a public hearing and an independent environmental impact assessment (EIA) on future developments involving environmentally-sensitive land in Penang.
Two days ago, environmentalist and Tanjung Bungah state assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu alleged that there was a possible illegal hill clearing in Bukit Kukus and called on the authorities to investigate and take the appropriate action.
Last year, hue and cry was raised over the illegal land clearing of Bukit Relau, which led the landowner to being fined RM30,000 after the council took them to court.
