JANUARY 21 ― The rise of Singapore since its split from Malaysia in 1965 has been meteoric. Touted as one of the 4 Asian Tigers, the island-nation’s annual GDP grew at an impressive average of 6.8 per cent in the past 40 years while at the same time was first in Asia and 11th in the world for the 2015 Human Development Index (HDI) rankings.
Penang is also experiencing this upward trend. Its GDP growth for the past five years averaged at 5.96 per cent; higher than the national average for the same period. From a social perspective, the global consulting firm ECA International named Penang as the most livable city in Malaysia, eighth in Asia in 2011 and 2012.
However, these miraculous transformations are not without drawbacks.
Similar challenges
Penang is similar to Singapore geographically and demographically. Both are islands separated from the mainland by a narrow strait, have high population densities, and to some extent rely on external resources to improve its economies. Thus from being almost physically identical, governments in both territories face very similar environmental challenges.
Due to the lack of land for development, cemeteries in Singapore (mostly located on hills for good feng shui) were cleared in the 1980s. Today, hill development in Penang is also taking place at an astonishing rate. In mid-January, the Penang Forum (a local coalition of NGOs) reported that 55 hill projects have been approved since 2008, promptly expressing their concern to the Chief Minister.
Singapore also faces a landfill issue. Since real estate is a scarce and expensive resource, Singapore has found a temporary solution by incinerating waste and transporting it to Semakau landfill ― one that is expected to fill up by 2035. For Penang, all construction waste is sent to Jelutong landfill while other forms of waste are put in barges in Batu Maung transfer station and towed by tugboat to the Pulau Burong landfill on mainland Penang. This is obviously not sustainable; with ample opportunity for leachate from the waste flowing into the sea and further expense of fuel for transport across the strait. Aside from that, most of the residents in the western part of Penang burn their rubbish in the late evenings.
Aside from hill clearing, Singapore has been actively expanding by reclaiming coastal areas. As a result, Singapore is 26 per cent larger than it was pre-independence resulting in the loss of many coastal zone habitats like mangroves and seagrass beds. Penang is no stranger to land reclamation as well. Areas synonymous to Penang today like Gurney Drive, Chew Jetty and Queensbay Mall were a result of reclamation activities in the last 50 years and with the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) in the works, it looks like this trend is set to continue.
One problem Singapore avoided that Penang still faces today is massive traffic congestion. Peak hours in Penang are testament to the fact that large numbers of cars and narrow roads do not work well together. Since cars spend more time on roads during traffic jams, the carbon footprint of an average Penangite is likely to increase if this persists.
Similar solutions?
On the same note, it might not be such a bad idea to look to Singapore for solutions to these environmental problems faced by Penang today.
With the skyrocketing prices of landed property, we are already seeing the Housing Development Board (HDB) styled apartments dotting the Penang skyline. The Chief Minister has also announced several affordable housing schemes slated to be developed in Batu Kawan, Teluk Kumbar and Kampung Jawa. The question remains as to whether the state can prevent this urban sprawl from jeopardising the green hills of Penang.
As for the waste problem, it is high time Penang looked for greener alternatives to solve this issue. Despite Penang’s high recycling rate ― highest in Malaysia at 32.8 per cent in 2014, all landfills have a finite lifespan of which an incinerator would prolong.
The state government has come up with the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) as a long term solution to the congestion issue. This ambitious project will try to disperse traffic and improve public transport by the construction of an undersea tunnel, extension of several highways, one Light Rail Transit (LRT) line, two monorail lines and a Bus Rapid Transport system. The only catch is that to solve one problem would mean the intensification of another.
The RM27 billion PTMP, if approved, will be funded by the reclamation of the southern coast to form two man-made islands. Aside from the loss in coastal and mangrove habitats, artisanal fishermen who have made a living from this part of Penang for generations will have to look for alternative sources of income.
As someone who spent my undergraduate days in the Pearl of the Orient, I am both excited and concerned about what the future Penang will look like. Will we see massive development at the expense of the environment? Only time will tell. Indeed the biggest challenge faced by the state government today is the pursuit of a thriving economy while maintaining the idyllic, pristine Penang that we Malaysians have come to know and love.
*This article was written by an Associate Editor from CEKU, the editorial arm of the United Kingdom and Eire Council of Malaysian Students (UKEC).
**This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
