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Daily Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Penang exco calls for clear policy on construction of non-Islamic places of worship
Published on: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 20, 2025 By: Opalyn Mok, Malay Mail Text Size: Penang executive councillor Lim Siew Khim said such a policy would make it mandatory for places of worship (RIBI) to apply for planning permission and building plan approvals through the state's One-Stop Centre. — Picture by Opalyn Mok GEORGE TOWN: The Penang state government needs to establish a clear policy regarding the construction or renovation of non-Islamic places of worship in the state, said state executive councillor Lim Siew Khim. The social, welfare, and non-Islamic affairs committee chairman said such a policy would make it mandatory for places of worship (RIBI) to apply for planning permission and building plan approvals through the state's One-Stop Centre. 'This is to ensure that the building design, structure, and location adhere to the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) and the approved land use plan,' she said in response to a question by Amir Hamzah Abdul Hashim (PAS–Permatang Pasir). As of May, Penang has a total of 136 illegal RIBI, with 115 on the island and 21 in Seberang Perai, Lim revealed. She said the number of illegal RIBI has decreased due to continuous monitoring and updates by both city councils. 'Between 2023 and 2024, a total of 43 illegal RIBI were identified by the Seberang Perai City Council, while the Penang Island City Council recorded 149 sites,' she said. Advertisement Lim added that the state government will continue holding engagement sessions with RIBI association representatives to emphasise the importance of submitting official applications before constructing or renovating structures. 'The state government's approach includes collaborating with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to encourage every RIBI to register their information so that the state has an official record of their existence,' she said. On enforcement, Lim said action was taken against six illegal structures, most of which were small shrines or structures encroaching on government reserve land. The six structures include one in North Seberang Perai, two in Central Seberang Perai, two in South Seberang Perai, and one in the northeast district of the island. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Penang sees decline in illegal worship sites following state monitoring
GEORGE TOWN: Nearly 200 unauthorised non-Islamic places of worship (RIBI) sites were recorded across Penang between 2023 and 2024. State Non-Islamic Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim (DAP - Sungai Pinang) said that 43 such sites were identified within the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) jurisdiction, while 149 were recorded under the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). However, she said that continued data updates and consistent monitoring had led to a decline in the number of unauthorised RIBI construction sites. "As of May this year, the number of unauthorised sites under MBPP has decreased to 115, while MBSP now records 21. "This suggests that our monitoring efforts and ongoing data refinement are having a positive impact in addressing this issue," she said, responding to a question from Amir Hamzah Abdul Hashim @ Md Hashim (Pas – Permatang Pasir) during the state legislative assembly sitting today. Lim added that enforcement actions had been taken against six RIBI structures, mostly comprising small shrines and minor structures encroaching on government reserve land. Meanwhile, she said the Penang government would intensify engagement with each RIBI association to stress the importance of submitting formal applications prior to any construction. As part of initial efforts, the state government has collaborated with the Registrar of Societies Malaysia to encourage all RIBIs to register and provide detailed information, thereby facilitating the maintenance of accurate official records. "The next step involves the state establishing a clear policy mandating that all construction or renovation of RIBIs must obtain Planning Permission and building plan approval via the state One-Stop Centre (OSC). "This ensures that all buildings comply with the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) and the approved land-use plans," she added.
Malay Mail
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Penang exco calls for clear policy on construction of non-Islamic places of worship
GEORGE TOWN, May 20 — The Penang state government needs to establish a clear policy regarding the construction or renovation of non-Islamic places of worship in the state, said state executive councillor Lim Siew Khim. The social, welfare, and non-Islamic affairs committee chairman said such a policy would make it mandatory for places of worship (RIBI) to apply for planning permission and building plan approvals through the state's One-Stop Centre. 'This is to ensure that the building design, structure, and location adhere to the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) and the approved land use plan,' she said in response to a question by Amir Hamzah Abdul Hashim (PAS–Permatang Pasir). As of May, Penang has a total of 136 illegal RIBI, with 115 on the island and 21 in Seberang Perai, Lim revealed. She said the number of illegal RIBI has decreased due to continuous monitoring and updates by both city councils. 'Between 2023 and 2024, a total of 43 illegal RIBI were identified by the Seberang Perai City Council, while the Penang Island City Council recorded 149 sites,' she said. Lim added that the state government will continue holding engagement sessions with RIBI association representatives to emphasise the importance of submitting official applications before constructing or renovating structures. 'The state government's approach includes collaborating with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to encourage every RIBI to register their information so that the state has an official record of their existence,' she said. On enforcement, Lim said action was taken against six illegal structures, most of which were small shrines or structures encroaching on government reserve land. The six structures include one in North Seberang Perai, two in Central Seberang Perai, two in South Seberang Perai, and one in the northeast district of the island.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bukit Lanchang rep: Penang has know-how to build quake-proof towers — so why haven't we used it?
GEORGE TOWN, May 19 — Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong today proposed that technical guidelines for high-rise buildings in Penang be updated to include mandatory earthquake-resistant designs. The DAP lawmaker argued that new policies and guidelines must be formulated to compel all new high-rise projects to be earthquake-resistant. 'Adjustments to the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) and the Local Plan need to be made to suit current needs and address modern disaster risks,' Ong proposed while debating his motion of thanks to the Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri at the state legislative assembly today. He urged local councils and relevant agencies to conduct structural audits of existing buildings, particularly those exceeding 20 storeys or constructed before 2000. 'It is proposed that the state government introduce an Earthquake Protection Scheme similar to that practised in Taiwan, where earthquake disaster coverage is part of fire insurance policies,' he suggested. Ong also recommended the establishment of a Penang State Disaster Protection Fund in collaboration with the insurance and financial sectors. 'The safety of the people of Penang is our shared responsibility, so we should act before anything happens,' he said. Ong said the collapse of a 33-storey building in Bangkok, following tremors from a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, should be a 'wake-up call' for Penang to strengthen its structural safety policies. He noted that Penang also experienced tremors from an earthquake in North Sumatra on May 11. 'Many residents in Batu Lanchang felt anxious and shocked, considering that this area houses numerous high-rise apartments,' Ong said, adding that hundreds of densely populated high-rise residential buildings are located in the Batu Lanchang area. Ong expressed shock that local authorities reportedly do not possess specific data on buildings designed to withstand earthquakes. 'This means there is no legal requirement so far to ensure that all high-rise buildings are constructed according to earthquake-resistant specifications,' he said. Pointing out that this issue was raised in the state legislative assembly 14 years ago, in 2011, he said there has been no significant change in policies, guidelines or legislation since. 'As far as I know, only two structures in Penang have been designed to withstand earthquakes since the 1980s until now,' he said. The two structures were the first Penang Bridge and Komtar Tower, which houses the Chief Minister's Office and the State Executive Council members. He said the structures were designed based on resilience to an earthquake strength of 7.0 on the Richter scale and within a 300-kilometre radius of the epicentre. 'This shows that the technical capability and structural planning for earthquake resistance exists so it is time that this technology and requirement be extended to all high-rise residential buildings,' he said.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Few Penang structures earthquake-ready, says assemblyman
GEORGE TOWN: Only two structures in Penang are designed to withstand earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale and within 300 km of the epicentre. Ong Ah Teong (PH - Batu Lanchang) stated that the two structures are the first Penang Bridge and Komtar, which houses the chief minister and state executive council members' offices. "When asked about the number of earthquake-resistant buildings on Penang Island, the answer from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is quite concerning, as there is no specific data regarding buildings designed to withstand earthquakes. "As of what is known, only Komtar and Penang Bridge are designed to withstand earthquakes. This shows that the technical and structural planning capabilities for earthquake resistance do exist," he said when debating the motion of thanks for Yang Dipertua Negri Tun Ramli Ngah Talib's speech, who officiated the sitting last Friday (May 16). Ong said it is important for such technology and requirements to be extended to all high-rise residential buildings. He urged the state government, through local authorities, to update the High-Rise Building Technical Guidelines by making earthquake-resistant design mandatory for all new development projects. He added that the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) and Local Plans (RT) should also be adapted to align with current needs and modern disaster risks. Ong suggested that MBPP and relevant agencies carry out structural audits of existing buildings, particularly those over 20 storeys high or built before the year 2000. He proposed that the state government introduce an Earthquake Protection Scheme, similar to what is practised in Taiwan, where earthquake disaster coverage is part of fire insurance policies. He also suggested establishing a Penang State Disaster Protection Fund in collaboration with the insurance and financial sectors. On May 11, tremors were felt in certain areas on the island of Penang after a moderate 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck north Sumatra at 4.57pm. Many Penangites, especially those living in high-rise buildings, felt the quake, which occurred about 500km away. On March 28, a powerful earthquake struck Mandalay in Myanmar, resulting in the destruction of buildings and loss of life.
