Gerakan has called for another people's uprising against the state government - this time on its plan to revive the development of Penang Hill, as this will be at great environmental cost and cause destruction to the island.

Severe ecological damage would occur if the popular landmark were to be developed according to the original plan proposed before 1990, state Gerakan chief Dr Teng Hock Nan warned.

lim chong eu The plan was mooted by former Chief Minister Dr Lim Chong Eu, who retired in 1990, after which the development was shelved when Koh Tsu Koon took over the state leadership.

According to the Consumers Association of Penang, the original plan involves the construction of two large hotels, a condominium, an ‘Acropolis' complex on the summit with shopping and sports centres.

Cinemas and nightclubs, more than 300 units of houses and chalets a golf course and other features would also be raised on 900 acres of land.

At that juncture, citizens groups embarked on an active campaign to oppose the project, which they said would be environmentally disastrous.

Teng, who is state BN working committe chairperson, said the coalition was concerned about the plan and would stand with the people to "spearhead and champion" what they wanted.

Development means drought for Penang

"The people must set up a movement in order to check on the state government's plan to revive development of Penang Hill," he told a press conference yesterday.

"It's been exactly 21 years since the first people's uprising against the extensive development of the hill. Now it's back... the people must organise themselves to speak up on the issue and the BN will definitely stand by them."

NONE Teng ( left ) was accompanied by state BN vice-chief and MIC chairperson PK Subbaiyah, BN treasurer Loh Nam Hooi, BN and Gerakan women wing head Ng Siew Lai, and Umno Bayan Baru division chief Abdul Rahim Saibu.

He was responding to the recent rebuttal by Berjaya Land Bhd that its proposal to develop Penang Hill was rejected because the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report was unfavourable.

Former Penang Chief Minister and Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon had said that many were not aware that the plan had been scrapped as the state had wanted to "save the face" of developers then.

However, Berjaya Land CEO Francis Ng said when Koh took over the chief ministership in 1991, he completely changed the original master plan proposed by Lim,.

Ng said Berjaya had wanted to appeal against the rejection of the EIA Report on the second master plan, but Koh appealed to the company to rescind the memorandum of understanding inked in 1990 and to wait for a local plan to be gazetted before carrying out any development.

Teng also said the BN viewed the development seriously as it has massive environmental and ecological implications and repercussions on the island, which will affect the future generations of the state.

The hill is home to a vast rain catchment area and has been the island's main water resource. Extensive development in the vicinity would cause severe drought to the island, he added.

CAP: Unfair to slam Koh for scrapping Penang Hill plan