Traffic system in Penang Draft Local Plan 2030 is preliminary proposal pending further study, says city council

GEORGE TOWN, Dec 30 — The traffic system in the Penang Draft Local Plan 2030 is only a preliminary proposal that will be studied in more detail before it is implemented, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) said.

In a statement issued today, it said further feedback and views would be obtained from stakeholders and residents before any proposed traffic system, including a one-way system, is introduced.

“The proposed one-way traffic system, if implemented, will need to be gazetted separately,” it said, replying to concerns raised by Penang Gerakan recently on the draft local plan and its contents.

Penang Gerakan had given the example of a busy main road in Bayan Baru being converted into a one-way traffic system, saying it could inconvenience the area’s residents.

Penang Gerakan Youth spokesman Tan Zhen Zune had also said the public display of the draft local plan was not easily accessible to the public due to it being open only during office hours at very few locations and was too technical for the layman to understand.

According to the city council, the draft local plan, in two volumes, was available for public scrutiny until January 10 at Bangunan Syed Al-Attas, Lebuh Armenian, George Town, MakerSpace Balik Pulau and the Town Planning Department at Level 16 in Komtar.

It said the draft local plan was also on public display at the Bayan Baru market between November 12 and December 13, at the MBPP Pavilion in Pesta Sungai Nibong between November 26 and December 31 and at Level Three of Queensbay Mall from December 29 to 30.

“MBPP staff were also available at these locations to assist the public in understanding the contents of the draft local plan,” it said.

The city council held a physical and online briefing session on the draft local plan to explain the contents of Volume One and Volume Two.

The physical briefing session was held at the Balik Pulau MakerSpace on December 4, while the online briefing session via Zoom took place on December 1.

“A video explaining the contents of the draft local plan was also uploaded to MBPP’s Facebook and is available on MBPP’s website,” it said.

The city council has also developed an Executive Information System (EIS) portal to allow the public to conduct a search regarding the zones in the draft local plan.

“The EIS is an online system that the public can download as a guide to refer to their lot numbers and mukim of their residence, or the public can alternatively search through latitude or longitude coordinates that they can obtain from other apps such as Google Maps,” it said.

The EIS can be accessed here.

The public display of the draft local plan was originally until December 13, but it was extended to January 10 to allow the public more time to submit their feedback.

“The extension of the public display period is in line with Section 13(3) of the Town and Country Planning Act which states that the period for public feedback or objections can be extended by not more than four weeks upon application by any parties,” it said.

The city council said it welcomes any views and feedback regarding the draft local plan and will continue to work with the state government, agencies, non-governmental organisations and residents’ associations to ensure the right information reaches the public.