Home  Book Review  Comment  Concerns  Concordance  Heritage  News  People  Page 11
 
 

Photo: Ayer Itam resesrvoir with the
new construction directly below
but to the right of the reservoir

FALLING rocks in the Yap Chor Ee Road area have increased the fears of the Hye Keat area residents, who have launched a signature campaign to oppose the construction of the 21 storey block by the Reservoir (see photo).. Charges and denials have been flying to and fro with spokeswoman Vivien Leow claiming that a public hearing, mandatory under the Town and Country Planning Act, was never held and council replying that a meeting was in fact called on November 11 1998 to consider objections. Council's version of events is supported by Bukit Bendera Assemblyman Cheah

Dr Teng Hock Nam told the press that approvals had been obtained from the Penang Water Supply Corporation and Kumpulan Ikram SB, a firm of consultants. Why the Water Corporation is planning to spend RM100,000 for expert advice on the stability of the area when the firm of consultants has okayed the project has yet to be explained. And why the developer has remained silent is another mystery. Commenting on the proposed extra expenditure Batu Lanchang Assemblyman Danny Law says that it is a waste of money. Council should have opposed the construction in the first place. The assemblyman reminded Council of the their statements made after the Majestic Heights affair.
According to Vivien Leow, Penang Water had opposed construction of five single storey houses on the same site five years ago. 

Strange things are certainly going on in Assemblyman Cheah's area. A building is coming up nearby standing right on top of a river, a strange place to build in one should have thought. No doubt the assemblymen will be looking at the Waters Act 1920

*** HYE KEAT Estate people have other worries on their minds. Thirty three house owners have had notices demanding RM500 ground rent from their landlord, up from the previous RM100 per month 
 

[Ed Note:  Kumpulan Ikram is a company which is comprised of civil engineers who are consultants for the Public Works Dept on geotechnical matters.

*For an earlier comment turn to  ISSUE No 3-NEWS ;  sub-heading "Threatened Plant".