GEORGE TOWN – Residents of Tg Bungah are calling on the Penang government to revoke the lease of a plot of illegally reclaimed land, pressing for its transformation into a nature trail.
The land, nicknamed the “sore thumb,” was illegally reclaimed over 20 years ago by a developer who used it as a dumping ground for rocks and soil.
The reclaimed land was later divided into two plots, one of which – Lot 4658 – was leased to the developer of One Tanjong, a nearby condominium complex.
In April 2018, ahead of the 14th general elections, then Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced plans to create a 9,000sqm park, along with a boardwalk and an open stage on the land.
However, six years later, that promise remains unfulfilled.
In 2022, Chow and Tg Bungah assemblyman Zairil Khir Johari informed One Tanjong residents that the developer would be permitted to construct a five-storey wellness centre on Lot 4658, on the condition that the park is built first.
The Tanjung Bungah Residents Association (TBRA) and One Tanjong residents are now demanding that the state government take over the entire land by cancelling the developer’s lease.
TBRA chairperson Zulfikar Abdul Aziz emphasised that illegal land reclamation should not be tolerated, regardless of when it occurred.
“If prosecution is not possible, the leasehold must be retracted, no matter the compensation involved,” said Zulfikar, a former city councillor for the Penang Island City Council.
A One Tanjong resident who wished to remain anonymous expressed concern that if the wellness centre project proceeds, it would devastate the area’s marine life – including sea otters that frequently visit the shore.
She argued that the state government should revoke the lease if it is committed to preserving Penang’s green spaces, as the land has now become a mini forest.
A forest-like park, not a concrete playground
In April last year, Zairil announced the state’s intention to gazette the illegally reclaimed land as a “green lung.”
However, the resident stated that while the land was gazetted in 2023, it was designated as “tanah lapang” (open land) – based on an email from the assemblyman in November.
They believe that if the land is to become a true “green lung,” it should be designated as reserve land, allowing for the creation of a nature park with a “forest bathing” concept – rather than a typical concrete park with underutilised playground equipment.
Zulfikar added that TBRA and One Tanjong residents participated in a roundtable discussion regarding the proposed wellness centre, where they discovered that the developer’s park plan resembled a concrete playground more than a green lung with forest trails. This has puzzled the association.
“We are advocating for a park with a ‘forest bathing’ concept, free from concrete structures. Let’s restore the area to what it was before the illegal reclamation – a coastal space the public can enjoy,” he said.
The unnamed resident echoed these sentiments, arguing that a typical concrete playground would be underutilised due to hygiene concerns. She maintained that a natural park with forest trails – while retaining existing trees – would be far more beneficial and cost-effective.
“We are asking for something simple that doesn’t require much funding. Yet the state government is dragging its feet,” she lamented.
The lack of progress on the green lung project has led to several protests by condominium residents and the TBRA in recent years.
The disputed land was also the subject of a judicial review filed by One Tanjong residents in November 2022 against the state government.
The residents challenged the rezoning of the land from marina use to commercial use, but they lost the case and have since appealed to the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya. The first hearing is scheduled for 27 September.
‘Tanah Lapang’ won’t be developed for other purposes
Zairil confirmed to Scoop that the state government gazetted the reclaimed land as a “tanah lapang” at the end of 2023. He defended this designation, stating that it ensures the land will be used solely for recreational purposes and cannot be developed further.
In response to TBRA’s calls for the lease to be revoked, Zairil said: “While we value feedback from various NGOs, the landowner – who is also the developer – is allowed to proceed with development as long as they follow all relevant rules and regulations.
The developer is required to construct the park before moving forward with their project, providing a coastal park for public use at no cost.” – August 22, 2024