Reclaiming Penang’s future

‘THE Pearl of the Orient’ – Penang Island – is one of the fastest growing and most densely populated places in the world.

Its population has increased by more than 40% since 1970 to 752,800 in 2015. That is an average of 1,663 people living per sq km of the island. The population is expected to rise exponentially over the next 15 years.

The 53ha Gurney Wharf, a sea-front park facing the famous Gurney Drive, is inspired by Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. Meanwhile, STP 2 is 308ha and comprises two islands which its developer claims as Penang’s new ‘millionaires’ row’. STP 2 is next to the Gurney Wharf and Seri Tanjung Pinang 1 (STP1). STP 1, an earlier reclaimed area of 97ha, is now home to more than 20 nationalities and Penang’s first festive retail marina.

Land reclamation in Penang began in the early 1800s but at a much sedate pace of only 0.4 sq km until 1960. Between the 1970s and 1990s, nearly 405ha of mangrove, coconut plantation and padi fields was reclaimed for the Bayan Lepas free-trade zone which is now known as the free industrial zone. The industrial area is home to electrical and electronics giant factories and regarded as the Silicon Valley of the East.

In June 1999, a 4.7 km three-lane dual carriageway Jelutong highway which is now part of Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu highway was built to connect Penang Bridge with Weld Quay in George Town. The highway was built on reclaimed land at the developer’s expense. In return, the developer was compensated with 149ha of yet-to-be-reclaimed land.

Today, the 149ha of Penang Straits has become The Light Waterfront, MetroEast and Bandar Sri Pinang.

In between Queensbay Mall and the Alcatraz of Malaysia – Jerejak Island, is a 10ha seabed to be reclaimed to build Queens Waterfront, which will include homes, marina, promenade, sports centre and an international school.

The state government’s proposed Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project to create three islands with total area of 1,821ha at the southern tip is part of its ambitious Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

The master plan includes highways and roads, two LRT lines, monorail lines, bus rapid transit (BRT), tram service and an undersea tunnel crossing to be built at an estimated cost of about RM27 billion in 2015. However, the cost has since ballooned to RM46 billion, excluding the undersea tunnel and three paired roads which cost RM6.3 billion.

To fund the transportation infrastructure, SRS Consortium will undertake building of the three islands.

Civil society groups and fishermen are opposed to the PSR as they say it could negatively impact on the environment and the livelihood of 5,000 fishermen and their families. If the PSR proceeds as planned, 32.3 sq km of the 321.8 sq km island (10%) will be on reclaimed land. – August 28, 2019.