Why isn't my town a city?
Athi VeerangganPublished: Jun 1, 2007 12:45 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Should George Town be declared as a city? Most Penangites would answer in the positive. And an equal number would be in the dark as to why it is still not a city.
Political rivalry between Gerakan and MCA is being touted as the reason for George Town in not being accorded a city status.
Should George Town be declared as a city? Most Penangites would answer in the positive. And an equal number would be in the dark as to why it is still not a city.
But the vibrant George Town was a city once - it was the country's first city declared by British Empress, Queen Elizabeth II in the late 1950's. It also has the distinction of having the first elected mayor.
But majority of Penangites won't know why under the country's law, George Town is not a city, officially.
Many are unaware that its city status was abruptly stripped off when the Local Government Act 1976 was enforced.
Over the years, politicians and social activists have frequently called on the state government to draft out the necessary papers to restore George Town's city status.
And why not?
After all it's a major tourist and commercial hub in the northern corridor of the Peninsular Malaysia and, has a population of 700, 000, an international airport, an international port, an international-class bridge, an internationally acclaimed university, an international industrial zone and a towering Komtar to support its socio-economic growth.
"It's joke that George Town is not city according to a Parliamentary statute when it was the first one declared in the country. The state government should have restored it a long time ago," said Penang DAP secretary Danny Law Heng Kiang.
Political rivalry
George Town lost its city rank when then the George Town city council and Penang island rural council merged into one entity known as the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) when the 1976 Act came to force.
But the state government could have easily restored it by applying to the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
However, the Gerakan-led state government, which has ruled Penang since 1969, apparently has never submitted an application, as required under the Act, to sanction the city declaration.
"Gerakan has let down Penangites by not restoring George Town's city status," said Law.
Some cynics suggested that the Gerakan-led state government did not want to apply to restore George Town's city status to the Housing and Local Ministry due to its bitter political rivalry with the MCA, whose leaders have regularly headed the ministry.
MCA president Ong Ka Ting is its current minister.
The George Town city limit encompasses areas between Weld Quay in the east, Bagan Jermal in the north, Gelugor in the south and Air Itam in the west.
Many have suggested the state government to expand the city limit and declare the whole island as a city.
Federal grants
Save Ourselves (Sos) secretary BK Ong alleged that George Town had lost millions in federal funds allotted for city development over the years due to Gerakan ineptness.
"Cities in the country are receiving bigger federal grants for development," he said.
The country's present cities are Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Melaka, Alor Star, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Miri and Kota Kinabalu.
Ong's contention was however, disputed by a MPPP legal officer, who said that a city council does not receive preferential treatment from the federal government over a municipality.
Under the Local Government Act, local authorities, either a city, municipal or even rural council, are entitled to request for and receive development grants from the federal government.
"Any council can apply for federal grants to carry out development projects, which includes infrastructure, facilities, amenities and even tourism. No council gets preferential treatment," said the officer, who declined to be named.
The officer said city status was more a matter of pride and prestige rather than a monetary gain.
Not all are keen on the status, anyway.
People's expectations
Aliran Treasurer Anil Netto said the city terminology was unimportant and would be a bad taste if George Town lagged far behind other urban areas in the country, let alone in the region, in providing quality public services.
He said it was imperative for George Town to have international class basic amenities, facilities, public transport, cleanliness and lifestyle, rather than a city status for sake of prestige and pride.
Previously, he said, George Town had all these qualities when the local authorities were elected because polls invoked democracy, responsibility, transparency and accountability.
"It forces the council to perform to the people's expectations," he said.
Although critics concurred with Anil that local government election was important, they however, argued that restoring the city status was as crucial for Penang's socio-economic and political growth as the country's frontline state.
"It's not a new declaration. It's to reaffirm the British declaration that George Town is a city," said Law.
But the vibrant George Town was a city once - it was the country's first city declared by British Empress, Queen Elizabeth II in the late 1950's. It also has the distinction of having the first elected mayor.
But majority of Penangites won't know why under the country's law, George Town is not a city, officially. Many are unaware that its city status was abruptly stripped off when the Local Government Act 1976 was enforced.
Over the years, politicians and social activists have frequently called on the state government to draft out the necessary papers to restore George Town's city status.
And why not?
After all it's a major tourist and commercial hub in the northern corridor of the Peninsular Malaysia and, has a population of 700, 000, an international airport, an international port, an international-class bridge, an internationally acclaimed university, an international industrial zone and a towering Komtar to support its socio-economic growth.
"It's joke that George Town is not city according to a Parliamentary statute when it was the first one declared in the country. The state government should have restored it a long time ago," said Penang DAP secretary Danny Law Heng Kiang.
Political rivalry
George Town lost its city rank when then the George Town city council and Penang island rural council merged into one entity known as the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) when the 1976 Act came to force.
But the state government could have easily restored it by applying to the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
However, the Gerakan-led state government, which has ruled Penang since 1969, apparently has never submitted an application, as required under the Act, to sanction the city declaration.
"Gerakan has let down Penangites by not restoring George Town's city status," said Law.
Some cynics suggested that the Gerakan-led state government did not want to apply to restore George Town's city status to the Housing and Local Ministry due to its bitter political rivalry with the MCA, whose leaders have regularly headed the ministry.
MCA president Ong Ka Ting is its current minister.
The George Town city limit encompasses areas between Weld Quay in the east, Bagan Jermal in the north, Gelugor in the south and Air Itam in the west.
Many have suggested the state government to expand the city limit and declare the whole island as a city.
Federal grants
Save Ourselves (Sos) secretary BK Ong alleged that George Town had lost millions in federal funds allotted for city development over the years due to Gerakan ineptness. "Cities in the country are receiving bigger federal grants for development," he said.
The country's present cities are Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Melaka, Alor Star, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Miri and Kota Kinabalu.
Ong's contention was however, disputed by a MPPP legal officer, who said that a city council does not receive preferential treatment from the federal government over a municipality.
Under the Local Government Act, local authorities, either a city, municipal or even rural council, are entitled to request for and receive development grants from the federal government.
"Any council can apply for federal grants to carry out development projects, which includes infrastructure, facilities, amenities and even tourism. No council gets preferential treatment," said the officer, who declined to be named.
The officer said city status was more a matter of pride and prestige rather than a monetary gain.
Not all are keen on the status, anyway.
People's expectations
Aliran Treasurer Anil Netto said the city terminology was unimportant and would be a bad taste if George Town lagged far behind other urban areas in the country, let alone in the region, in providing quality public services.
He said it was imperative for George Town to have international class basic amenities, facilities, public transport, cleanliness and lifestyle, rather than a city status for sake of prestige and pride.
Previously, he said, George Town had all these qualities when the local authorities were elected because polls invoked democracy, responsibility, transparency and accountability.
"It forces the council to perform to the people's expectations," he said.
Although critics concurred with Anil that local government election was important, they however, argued that restoring the city status was as crucial for Penang's socio-economic and political growth as the country's frontline state.
"It's not a new declaration. It's to reaffirm the British declaration that George Town is a city," said Law.
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