Penang government asked to stop approving development projects in Bayan Baru

GEORGE TOWN (Dec 1): The Penang government must cease approving development projects in the Bayan Baru area to prevent flash floods, said Gerakan Bayan Baru chairman Teh Leong Meng.

He said the area had been unsustainably developed and the people now have to put up with flash floods, Bernama reported today. 

"We want the state government to disclose detailed information on how it is going to solve the flood problem which affects businesses, especially in the Bayan Baru commercial areas, Bayan Lepas and Batu Maung," he told reporters at the Bayan Baru hawker centre here today. Teh was also distributing 2017 calendars to customers and hawkers.   

He also said that the state government should not rely on the federal government alone to resolve the flood problems, Bernama reported.

Various parts of Penang had been hit by numerous flash floods in recent times. Even the state’s international airport was not spared when a heavy downpour caused water to seep into the arrival hall in July.

Deepavali this year was also ruined when more than 100 houses on the island were submerged in knee-deep water as a result of a flash flood that hit areas such as Bandar Baru Air Itam, Jalan P Ramlee, Jalan Masjid Negri and also Sungai Pinang.

And one week after the Festival of Lights, George Town was at a standstill as the island suffered one of the worst flash floods followed by landslides.

In October, the Consumers Association of Penang called on the state government to stop all developments until floods are no longer a problem on the island.

Its officer S V Subarrow said the frequent recurrence of flash floods in the state was alarming and getting from bad to worse.