The Penang state government has called on the public, professional associations, and stakeholders to participate in the consultation programme for the Review of the Penang State Structure Plan 2040 (RSNPP 2040), with particular focus on the policy regarding hill slope development.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stated that the publicity and public participation programme is designed to inform the public about RSNPP 2040—a plan reviewed every ten years—while providing a platform for stakeholders to contribute their perspectives on Penang’s future. “This programme is open to everyone, including individuals, communities, organisations, the private sector, and professional bodies. It provides a chance for them to express their opinions on the state’s development direction, particularly concerning hill slope development,” he said, following a cheque presentation ceremony at Komtar’s F Auditorium.
Chow affirmed that the state government is prepared to consider all suggestions and feedback from the public, organisations, and stakeholders, emphasising that this is a critical time for input about Penang’s future. His comments followed a protest by Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), which criticised potential changes to the hill slope development policy and cautioned that such adjustments could increase safety risks.
State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye has launched the RSNPP 2040, which will feature several enhancements, including a review of development height policies and coordinated management of environmentally sensitive areas. H’ng highlighted that policy restrictions on development above 76 metres from sea level are among the issues under review, alongside challenges such as land scarcity and a significant number of environmentally sensitive areas.
Chow elaborated that the state aims to secure a more robust technical justification for approved development heights. “The existing guidelines set the height limit at 76m or 250 feet above sea level, a measure that has been in place for decades, but without clear documentation of how it was determined,” he said. He noted that other states, such as the Federal Territories, have established a 500-foot height limit, underscoring the importance of the consultation in gathering technical input from institutes of engineers, associations of architects, and urban planning bodies.
He further noted that hill slope development is a longstanding issue in Penang, with past approvals for infrastructure projects that exceeded the height restriction, albeit under rigorous conditions. “If a highway can be permitted, we need to consider its rationale in comparison to other developments such as residential housing. This requires in-depth technical perspectives,” he said.
Separately, SAM president R. Meenakshi issued a statement rejecting any revisions to the current RSNPP 2030 policy, which prohibits development on slopes above 76 metres or with a gradient steeper than 25 per cent. This policy was adopted after several deadly landslides caused considerable damage in the state. SAM urged the government and local authorities to prioritise climate resilience rather than relax controls in high-risk areas.
“SAM will submit feedback on the publicity report of the RSNPP 2040 review and collaborate with other civil society organisations to raise awareness among Penang residents, urging them to reject proposed changes to the policy. We also call on the state government to maintain the current policy that limits hill slope development,” Meenakshi stated.
