Balik Pulau needs a new master plan, says PKR senator
Balik Pulau in Penang needs a new master plan and effective policies to steer the semi-urban constituency toward sustainability, economic and social progress and inclusion, a PKR senator said.
Yusmadi Yusoff, a former Balik Pulau MP, said a well-thought-out policy, including gazetting a proper local structure plan in line with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow's Penang 2030 plan, was urgent to protect the local people and ensure they have adequate housing...
Balik Pulau in Penang needs a new master plan and effective policies to steer the semi-urban constituency toward sustainability, economic and social progress and inclusion, a PKR senator said.
Yusmadi Yusoff, a former Balik Pulau MP, said a well-thought-out policy, including gazetting a proper local structure plan in line with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow's Penang 2030 plan, was urgent to protect the local people and ensure they have adequate housing.
"I am also moved by PKR president and Port Dickson MP Anwar Ibrahim, who has created a master plan for his constituency to address the local concerns of the community," Yusmadi told Malaysiakini.
"I believe such a plan can work very well for Balik Pulau, where the kampung folk constantly face eviction and there seems to be a lack of proper policies to defend them," he added.
On Jan 4, Anwar announced the master plan and he said in a statement that the initiative "is an all-inclusive development programme that pursues to be holistic, environmentally-friendly and sustainable in nature".
Yusmadi said the master plan for Balik Pulau could be effective in ensuring Penang's heritage is maintained and sustained.
"It is also about preserving cultural Malay villages, Chinese fishermen’s villages and promoting old towns such as Pekan Kongsi Balik Pulau. All these would be gone due to rapid development and urbanisation if a proper plan is not in place soon," Yusmadi said during his visit back home for the Chinese New Year holidays.
He said Penang is at an advantageous position as its former mayor, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, was elected as the executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in December 2017.
Yusmadi noted that Maimunah (photo) had successfully led the Penang Island and Seberang Perai local councils in achieving the state's vision of a “cleaner, greener, safer and healthier place to work, live, invest and play”.
During her tenure, he added, Seberang Perai was the first local authority to implement and achieve six quality-based management ISO certifications.
"Penang can do well to engage her to develop a New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal II that is focused on sustainable urbanisation," he said.
Yusmadi makes frequent visits to his hometown, despite practising law in Kuala Lumpur, and continues to defend cases of eviction, which he took on when he was the MP for Balik Pulau for one term, from 2008 to 2013.
He referred to a recent case where 14 villagers from Kg Jalan Bharu, Balik Pulau, were asked to leave their homes by the developer.
According to Yusmadi, a meeting with the state executive councillor in charge of local government, housing, town and country planning, Jagdeep Singh Deo, had taken place in April last year to address the matter.
The villagers are seeking a humane compensation and are also seeking the state's direct involvement in the matter.
