Activists are questioning why hill slope projects are still being given the nod by the Penang government, despite a policy stating that developments 76.2m (250ft) above sea level and on slopes steeper than 25ft (7.6m) were not allowed.

University don Sharom Ahmat said today although Penang municipal councillor Lim Mah Hui had made an impassioned plea to stop hill-clearing activities, "… quite clearly little or nothing has been done".

He noted that the recent state legislative assembly heard that there were currently 124 projects on hills with slopes of 25° and above 76m on the island.

State executive councillor on local government Chow Kon Yeow had said of the 12,456 approved projects, 68 were projects without permits from the local authorities.

"Those approved are designated special projects. We are not clear what this is. If projects are special, they should be for the people," Sharom ( photo ) said at the 'Save Our Hills' symposium in Georgetown organised by the Penang Forum.

"Surely, projects which cost RM5 million a unit are not special but vested projects," he said.

Sharom also noted that there are 33 incidents of illegal hill-clearing activities between 2008 and 2014 and in 2015, there are 35 such cases.

"This year's numbers seem to be greater than all the previous years combined," he said.

He said hill destruction brought about environmental, ecological and economic impacts and as such, the Penang government needed to have political will to ensure the situation does not worsen.

Towards this, he lauded the state government's CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) principle, saying it was "marvellous".

He also commended Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's decision to declassify agreements on sea reclamation projects but added '… hopefully the documents disclosed include the ones on the ongoing projects and those not approved yet".

"In the interest of transparency, DAP's own Sepang MP Ong Kian Ming had asked for disclosure of agreements related to federal government projects. We hope the same will be given to us by our state government," Sharom said.

"On competency, we want the state government to monitor hill-cutting activities and take the proper measures.

"Be accountable to the citizens at large and not certain selected groups. All we ask is that you walk your talk," he added.

Public hearing

In 2012, Lim had urged for stiffer penalties for those guilty of illegal hill-clearing.

He made the appeal after developer General Accomplishment was slapped with only a RM30,000 fine by the courts for the offence.

At the last state assembly sitting which concluded on Nov 20, Chow had said that among the measures the state government was taking to deal with the problem were:

  • illegal hill land projects were dealt with stop-work orders under the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974;
  • landowners are told to submit mitigation plans to rehabilitate the cleared areas;
  • exposed hill slopes are to be covered with geo-textile fabrics or grass; and
  • offenders being taken to court.

Chow had claimed that most of the projects were approved in 2010, 2011 and 2012, when the then municipal council gave approval for 34 projects.

Penang Forum spokesperson Leong Yueh Kwong ( right ) questioned why the Penang government was going against its own policies in allowing development on hill slopes 76m above sea level.

"We are not sure why but we wonder if the state government has any intention to reverse its own policies.

"It they want to do it, the Special Area Plan requires that a public hearing be held. Is there a change of policy coming?" he asked.

"I hope our voices are heard. We want participatory democracy not just voting every five years and letting our politicians do what they want," he noted.