LETTER | Sahabat Alam Malaysia is strongly opposed to any review of the policy in the 2030 Penang Structure Plan, which prohibits any development on hillslopes above 76m or slopes with a gradient above 25 degrees.

We are very troubled to learn that the state is mulling changes to this policy in preparation for the 2040 Structure Plan via a relaxation of this rule to allow for hillslope developments above the 76m limit.

This would be a grave folly and mistake if such a reversal of policy takes place, especially in this day and age of rising climate change impacts.

The current policy is in place precisely due to landslides and slope failures, which have happened in the past and claimed lives and damaged homes and properties in Penang.

The Penang state government and the local government must enhance climate resilience and prepare for the increasing climate change impacts by retaining and strengthening the policy of limiting hillslope developments, instead of weakening it.

The recent events in Hat Yai in Thailand and Aceh in Sumatra show clearly the losses and damages seen due to heavy and intense rains, which are becoming more and more frequent and severe. 

Malaysia also has not been spared, and instead of increasing our climate resilience, we seem to be decreasing our resilience by reversing the good and sound policy on hillslope developments.

The Penang state government must put the safety of the public and the environment ahead of pressures from mighty developers who put profits ahead.

SAM will provide our feedback to the ongoing publicity of the Report of Survey for the 2040 Structure Plan and will also work with other civil society groups to raise awareness among Penangites to oppose the proposed changes being mulled by the state government.

We reiterate our call to the Penang state government not to reverse the current policy on limiting hillslope development.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.