GEORGE TOWN: Residents protesting a proposed mega development in Gelugor brought their objections to the Penang state legislative assembly building in Lebuh Light on Wednesday (May 13).
About 30 residents holding placards submitted protest petitions to the state government, fearing the high-rise project would permanently alter their neighbourhood’s character.
Gelugor Neighbourhood Association chairman Datuk Ahmad Ibni Hajar, who led the protest, said residents strongly opposed the proposed Lot 642 project, which involves four high-rise towers: two 61-storey blocks and two 45-storey mixed-development blocks.
He said the association had received over 4,000 petitions from residents concerned that the project would worsen congestion, strain infrastructure and further reduce limited green spaces.
In a statement, the association said Gelugor residents were already under pressure from two recently completed mega apartment projects, Ideal Residency and Venice, which added 2,850 units.
It said the Lot 642 project would raise the number of new housing units nearby to about 6,363 within a short period.
“This is a drastic increase that existing infrastructure, including roads, water supply and public utilities, clearly cannot cope with,” the association said.
The association also cited the impact of the Air Itam-Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass project, saying that another large-scale development would worsen traffic, noise, vibrations, and construction-related air pollution.
It said the proposed towers would become a “continuous source of pollution” that could affect residents’ respiratory health and quality of life.
The association added that Gelugor already lacks green recreational spaces.
“Residents in Gelugor have long faced the absence of a safe public park for sports, recreation and community activities,” it said, adding that Lot 642 could be turned into a public park or green lung.
The group also warned that uncontrolled development would permanently change Gelugor from a low- to medium-density neighbourhood into a densely populated urban area.
It also urged authorities to publicly disclose the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Social Impact Assessment (SIA), Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA), Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) reports before any approval is granted.
Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, who met the residents outside the legislative building, said discussions had already been held with the committee in April.
“We met with the committee in April.
“We heard their concerns and engaged in necessary discussions,” he said.
Also present was Seri Delima assemblyman Connie Tan Hooi Peng.
