Latest news with #H'ng
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'No development applications received for PTC land'
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has not received any application for development on the Penang Turf Club (PTC) land following the 160-year-old club's dissolution. State Local Government Committee chairman Jason H'ng said the new Penang Local Plan will determine the zoning for the prime land near Bukit Gantung. "It is unclear whether the area will be designated for recreational use, open space, or other purposes," H'ng told the New Straits Times. He added that the matter was being studied. He said the state would seek public comments and opinions on the plan. H'ng added that former PTC members and nearby residents can share their views during the public consultation process. He said that in any case, the state would require multiple assessments before any development plan can be considered. "We will consider the opinion of the community before any project is approved." PTC, a historic part of the state's landscape, will be dissolved, with the last race on its grounds set for yesterday. Its dissolution has raised public interest and speculation about the future use of its 80.9ha grounds.
Barnama
23-05-2025
- General
- Barnama
Penang Reviewing Land Issue Threatening Future Of 4PAWS Shelter
GENERAL GEORGE TOWN, May 23 (Bernama) -- The Penang government is reviewing concerns raised by the Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM) over land issues that threaten the future of the Penang Animal Welfare Society (4PAWS) shelter in Teluk Bahang. State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said that while no decision has been made yet, the land currently occupied by 4PAWS is under lease until 2030. The organisation is currently working to raise funds to purchase the site. 'In February and March, 4PAWS, through its manager Yan Naung Thet, also known as Murugan, approached the state government and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to seek assistance in extending his stay in Malaysia, allowing him to continue volunteering at the shelter. 'At that time, the founder of 4PAWS, Barbara Janssen, was unwell, and discussions centred solely on ensuring continuity of shelter operations, not on the lease issue,' he told Bernama. H'ng was responding to SAFM's call for the state government to intervene and help resolve the land dispute affecting the shelter, which houses around 700 dogs. Earlier, SAFM president R. Kalaivanan said that over 700 dogs at the 4PAWS shelter are at risk of losing their home as the landowner intends to sell the property. The organisation has been given until the end of this month to decide whether it can purchase the land at the price of RM2.2 million. SAFM has appealed to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to urgently allocate permanent land to ensure the shelter's continued operation. H'ng added that 4PAWS is a non-governmental organisation providing sanctuary to stray dogs in Teluk Bahang. The shelter has also contributed to MBPP's efforts to manage the stray dog population by caring for animals that have been vaccinated, neutered, and made available for adoption.
The Star
23-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Penang reviewing land issue threatening animal shelter with over 700 dogs
GEORGE TOWN: Penang is looking into concerns raised by the Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM) over land issues that threaten the future of the Penang Animal Welfare Society (4PAWS) shelter in Teluk Bahang. State local government and town and country planning committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said that while no decision has been made yet, the land currently occupied by 4PAWS is under lease until 2030. The organisation is currently working to raise funds to purchase the site. "In February and March, 4PAWS, through its manager Yan Naung Thet, also known as Murugan, approached the state government and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to seek assistance in extending his stay in Malaysia, allowing him to continue volunteering at the shelter. "At that time, the founder of 4PAWS, Barbara Janssen, was unwell, and discussions centred solely on ensuring continuity of shelter operations, not on the lease issue," he said. H'ng was responding to SAFM's call for the state government to intervene and help resolve the land dispute affecting the shelter, which houses around 700 dogs. Earlier, SAFM president R. Kalaivanan said that over 700 dogs at the 4PAWS shelter are at risk of losing their home as the landowner intends to sell the property. The organisation has been given until the end of this month to decide whether it can purchase the land at the price of RM2.2mil. SAFM has appealed to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to allocate permanent land to ensure the shelter's continued operation. H'ng added that 4PAWS is a non-governmental organisation providing sanctuary to stray dogs in Teluk Bahang. The shelter has also contributed to MBPP's efforts to manage the stray dog population by caring for animals that have been vaccinated, neutered, and made available for adoption. "4PAWS is not registered with the local authorities, as the registration of animal shelters falls under the jurisdiction of the Veterinary Services Department and the Animal Welfare Board," he said. - Bernama
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Delay sends wrong message': Environmental group questions Penang's decision to not gazette Middle Bank as marine sanctuary
GEORGE TOWN, May 21 — Pertubuhan Jaringan Ekologi dan Iklim Pulau Pinang (Jedi) has called on the Penang state government to immediately gazette Middle Bank as a marine sanctuary due to its role as a carbon sink that strengthens climate resilience. Jedi spokesman Andrew Han said the Middle Bank is one of the last surviving seagrass meadows in Peninsular Malaysia. 'It is not just a natural treasure, it is an ecological life support system," he said in a statement today. 'It supports the livelihoods of coastal fishers, contributes to Penang's food security, and serves as a carbon sink that strengthens climate resilience,' he added. Han was responding to state executive councillor H'ng Mooi Lye's remarks that the Penang government currently has no plans to gazette the Middle Bank Marine Sanctuary. H'ng had said doing so would classify it as an environmentally sensitive area and trigger stricter environmental requirements for nearby developments, including the Jelutong landfill rehabilitation. Han claimed residents were not adequately informed about the scope of the landfill rehabilitation project, which involves sea reclamation and the proposed construction of a waste-to-energy processing facility near homes, schools, and public spaces. 'Delaying or denying protection to Middle Bank in the name of project continuity sends the wrong message to residents, especially those living near Karpal Singh Drive and Jelutong who are already concerned about health, environmental degradation, and broken promises over coastal development,' Han added. He called on the state government to reassess the reclamation and waste to energy plant project near Karpal Singh Drive and engage with stakeholders by holding dialogue sessions on the project. H'ng, in his winding-up speech at the legislative assembly, said the state can gazette the Middle Bank as an environmentally sensitive area after the projects in the area have completed. 'If the project is cancelled, it will give the state a negative image and this also lead to a loss in opportunity to generate revenue through rehabilitation of the landfill,' he said. However, he noted that if the project fails to obtain an Environmental Impact Assessment Report approval before February 28, 2026, the state reserves the right not to continue with the development agreement for the project.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Penang rules out gazetting Middle Bank Marine Sanctuary to avoid project disruptions
GEORGE TOWN, May 21 — The Penang state government does not plan to gazette the Middle Bank Marine Sanctuary, according to state executive councillor H'ng Mooi Lye. The state local government, town and country planning committee chairman said the Middle Bank cannot be gazetted as this would classify it as an environmentally sensitive area. 'Any projects implemented within a 500-metre radius of an environmentally sensitive area would require a Second Schedule Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report,' he told Malay Mail recently. He said this could affect planned projects near the area and might also impact the Penang Port expansion project. H'ng was clarifying his response to a written question by Lee Khai Loon (PKR-Machang Bubuk) at the state legislative assembly regarding the rehabilitation of the Jelutong landfill project. The project involves reclaiming 70 acres (28ha) of the sea, with potential implications for the Middle Bank. In his reply to Lee, H'ng said the state approved the 70-acre (28ha) sea reclamation to create a work platform for rehabilitation works at the landfill. 'The Jelutong landfill is unsafe because it has long been used as an open dumping ground,' he said. Lee also asked if the state had an exit clause in case the rehabilitation project failed. H'ng said the joint development agreement would be cancelled if the project failed to proceed. 'A new tender process would then be initiated through a Request for Proposal (RFP) or open tender procurement procedure,' he said. However, he noted there was a risk of claims and legal action by the developer against the state government and Penang Development Corporation (PDC). He added that a new developer would not be able to take over the project until legal procedures were completed, which could take between three and five years. The Middle Bank Marine Sanctuary spans around 10 square kilometres in the waters of the South Channel between Penang island and the mainland. It is home to the only seagrass bed in the Straits of Malacca. A study revealed a total of 429 species of seagrass, trees, vegetation, fish, birds, marine mammals, turtles, molluscs, arthropods and echinoderms inhabit the area. The rehabilitation project has yet to begin as it is still awaiting EIA approval from the Department of Environment (DoE). The PDC signed a deal with PLB Engineering Bhd in 2020 to rehabilitate and develop the Jelutong landfill at a cost of RM1 billion. The DoE issued a public notice on its Facebook page on February 12 this year regarding the proposed rehabilitation and reclamation project.
