In a bid to create more housing and business opportunities for residents in the Southwest district, the Penang Island Municipal Council plans to build three one-stop five-storey complexes.

The complexes, to be constructed in Balik Pulau, Batu Maung and Teluk Kumbar, will consist of residential units, wet markets, public libraries, multi-purpose halls and meeting rooms.

"The one-stop complexes will cater for the housing, business and household needs of the residents. The complexes would also provide homes in the same location for residents, whose houses and land had been acquired to make way for the projects.

"Affected residents do not need to move away from their present settlement," said South-west district officer Zainal Rahim Seman, who added that residents did not object the move.

Political and community leaders have long criticised the council for 'neglecting' the Southwest district, which encompasses Teluk Bahang, Balik Pulau, Teluk Kumbar, Bayan Lepas free industrial zone and Sungai Ara. There are 170,000 residents in the district.

They alleged that the council had always given priority to the Northeast district, which encompasses George Town and has 350,000 residents.

Much needed development

In a move to silence its critics, the council has set aside RM37 million to build the complexes. Work will commence this year and the complexes are expected to be completed by 2006.

The council will allot RM15 million to build the Balik Pulau complex, which will replace the existing market in Jalan Besar, Kongsi.The present market, built in 1914, is expected to be renovated into a museum or shopping complex.

The Teluk Kumbar complex will be built for RM12 million on the same site of the present wet market, which was built in 1937 while another RM10 million will be spent to build the Batu Maung complex.

At present, the council manages 20 wet and dry markets on the island including those at Chowrasta, Jalan Kuantan, Jalan Datuk Keramat, Tanjung Bunga, Pulau Tikus and Lebuh Campbell.

The new wet markets are designed to cater for the population's needs over the next 20 years.

"The complexes will bring about the much needed development in the district," said Zainal.

ATHI VEERANGGAN in malaysiakini's Penang-based stringer.