Developers have asked the Penang government to speed up the state's local plans as it would prevent the neighbours of their respective projects from challenging their development plans.

Amos Ng, CEO of Star Sanctuary Land, a first time developer from Selangor, said  his firm's project in Butterworth is being delayed due to the absence of local plans.

Local plans are statutory documents by the local councils on the purpose of the various plots of land in the area/state.

"I'm a first-time developer from Selangor, I decided to invest here after attending the Penang International Property (PIP) Conference in 2015, but my project has been delayed for about eight months as it is being challenged by our neighbours," Ng said during a question-and-answer session at the PIP event in Penang today.

"Our project has obtained a 100 percent approval from the Seberang Perai Municipal Council, but our case is stuck in the Appeals Board," he added.

According to Ng, residents around his RM100 million project in Bagan Jermal has complained about the 19-storey, 250-unit projects's density on a 1.7 acre plot fronting the Penang channel.

"Without local plans, anyone can take the opportunity to challenge any development plans; if they lose, they are not required to pay compensation.

"With local plans, we can challenge each other in the High Court, and whoever loses would have to pay compensation to the winning party," he added.

Ng, who was born in Butterworth, said he chose to invest in Penang to contribute to his state.

However, he is thinking twice about making a second investment if the state has no local plans.

He claimed other developers from outside Penang he has spoken to, who have also invested in the state, are facing similar problems.

Ng said with local plans in Selangor, developers find it easier to implement their projects.

"Approve the local plans like Selangor so that Butterworth and the mainland can move so much faster".

In an immediate response, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the move to challenge development plans is "part of the democratic process".

He told certain quarters who are pushing for the local plans to "be careful of what you wish for".

Lim said developers want local plans so that residents cannot challenge their projects or raise their grievances at the State's Appeals Board.

"We have a full functioning Appeals Board now, that is being conducted by professionals who are independent, unlike in the past (prior to 2008) where the board was run by rejected politicians," Lim said.

The state's Appeals Board is currently helmed by former Bar Council president Yeo Yang Poh. The Penang Town and Country Planning Act allows residents to challenge developers at the Appeals Board.

Lim urged developers to get their lawyers to write to the Appeals Board if their cases are delayed.

The Penang Town and Country Planning Act allows residents to challenge developers at the Appeals Board.

Lim also said that the local plans in the mainland are still being worked out as there is an effort to merge three local plans (Seberang Perai north, central and south), into one.

Accompanying Lim at the conference were state executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo, Penang Real Estate and Housing Developers Association chairperson and De Toh Chin Leong and Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce vice-president Finn Choong.