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| Guan Eng hits out at NGOs for silence |
| Written by Regina William | |||
| Friday, 06 November 2009 15:58 | |||
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GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng questioned the sincerity of some non-governmental organisations (NGOs), whom he said were "deafeningly" silent now that the state government faced the possibility of paying compensation to a developer after George Town's listing as a Unesco World Heritage site. One of the developers of the four projects that came under Unesco's scrutiny following George Town's listing is said to be seeking tens of millions of ringgit in compensation from the state government for having to scale down the project. "Where are they now? Some of these NGOs only know how to talk but never deliver," Lim said. "They knew how to make hundreds of press statements about preserving Penang's heritage and also about Penang's chances being jeopardised by the project. However, when the state government is being asked to pay compensation, they have all gone quiet. "Some even do not attend the heritage advisory panel meetings now. We have to question their sincerity and neutrality. "They do not have to pay, but the state government and the people of Penang have to bear the consequences," he said at a press conference. Lim said the Penang World Heritage office, which is under his purview will carry out the George Town Land Use and Population survey as preliminary research for the Special Area Plan (SAP), which is an obligation under the Unesco World Heritage listing. The survey will collect basic population and employment information on every residence, businesses, government agency, religious/clan association, educational institution and NGO within the core and buffer zone of the World Heritage site, an area with over 5,000 buildings. Lim said the cooperation of the residents was vital as the survey was essential and it would form the baseline information to prepare the SAP. The first phase of the survey will commence in the middle of November and run through to January 2010. It is being carried out by the World Heritage Office, Town and Country Planning Department, Penang Island Municipal Council and Think City Sdn Bhd. He also stressed that, though the purview of gazetting any building as a heritage site was with the Heritage Commissioner Datuk Zuraina Majid, who was appointed by the federal government, the approval of the state government must also be obtained. "If the residents or house owners are not keen on it, we will not arm-twist them. "We will consider the views of the house owners and obtain their consent if there are specific circumstances that would require their consent," he added. He also reiterated his call for the federal government to release RM25 million to the Penang state government for heritage efforts. "Bear in mind that while Malacca was given the RM30 million, we haven't received anything. The federal government should remember that if Penang fails, Malacca would fail too, as this is a joint declaration for both Penang and Malacca as heritage sites. "Show us what you really mean when you say 1Malaysia and stand with the people of Penang to protect and conserve our heritage and deliver the promises made," he added.
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