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Assemblyman Mr Lim Boo Chang
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Page 11
JELUTONG EXPRESSWAY (JE): Before the 1995 general elections it was announced that JE would be completed before year 2000. In 1998 it was the economic slowdown that was blamed. In 1999 the chief minister changed the date of completion to year 2001 But now we learn from the deputy chief minister that JE faced three major problems: relocation of a shipyard, dump site and squatters.
SECOND LINK (PORR): Hume, IJM, Rosalia and Tanpam form the group for this project of which JE is one section. But it is unlikely that the announced completeion date of year 2001 will be achieved. It seems that loans are not forthcoming but we keep making promises
MALAYSIA BOLEH we say but this must not be an empty slogan. The LRT project, talked about when Tun Dr Lim was chief minister, the expansion of the Botanical Gardens, the moderate development of Penang Hill, the Manhattan Skyline, the cable car project, Pulau Jerejak development, the High Tech Park, the Electronic Government of Penang; what has happened to them?
THE PDC IN EDUCATION: I see that the Penang Development Corporation has abandoned its role in education by selling off the International College to INTI College. But what is surprising is that we now learn that the PDC, the econmic wing of the state government was conducting courses for two years without approval of the Ministry in accordance with section 38(b) of the Higher Private Education Act 1996. The fate of the 70 second year students caught by failure to observe the Act is a cause for concern.
HYE KEAT ESTATE DEVELOPMENT: The permission for a 21 storey block to be built at Hye Keat Estate is not in line with the concept of sustainable development. I cannot understand why 5 years ago the Water Authority (PBA) had opposed the construction of even single storey houses but 5 years later after corporatisation now approves a 21 storey building. How could another hill slope development sprout up after the Highland Tower incident? The approving authorities must have a short memory of what actually happened in Paya Terubong i.e. landslides at Awana Condominium and havoc in Majestic Heights.
A building is coming up nearby right on top of a river. Section 14(1) of the Waters Act 1920 provides: "Save as may be expressly authorised under the provisions of any other law no person shall in any state ... erect or build any wall or contruct any revetment along the bank of any river or erect any building or structure within 50 feet of any such bank or within any flood channel declared under this section, except with ... written permisision in that behalf from the State authority... " How could this happen?
AFFORDABLE HOUSING: It has been the aim of government to provide a roof over everyone's head But what we have seen is only the Sungai Pinang low cost housing project which has obtained federal allocations. The state government is over dependent on privte developers to construct low cost houses but developers can stop work or abandon their projects altogether. More positive steps must be taken to encourage the housing industry. Rebates in quit rent and assessment, lower development charges and car park contributions should help
Lim Boo Chang