Penang Island wants city status
Penang is applying to the Housing and Local Government Ministry for the whole island to be granted city status, and for the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) to be elevated to a city hall.
Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said today he had recently raised the matter with minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, who did not object to the proposed idea.
"The previous government was offered the city status, but did not want to take it up," Lim said at a press conference after the swearing-in of MPPP councillors for the 2010 term at the City Hall here.
He said the conferment of city status for the whole island was important, especially since George Town had already been recognised by Unesco as a historic city.
State Local Government Committee chairman and Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who was also present, said city status would bring added benefits to the island residents.
For example, as a City Hall, the island’s local government would have more powers in managing public roads, as stipulated under the Road Transport Act 1987. Currently, many of the roads in Penang are under the purview of the federal Public Works Department.
On the proposed Penang International Convention Centre, Lim said the state had received 21 comments on the project, after the deadline for public feedback ended last Friday.
He stressed that the state understood concerns about traffic around the site which currently houses the Penang International Sports Arena.
He also gave an assurance the MPPP would oversee a traffic impact study for the site, and noted that it already had a multi-level parking facility.
Lim also said the MPPP and Seberang Prai Municipal Council had been directed to start a RM10,000 integrity award for any staff who exposes corruption and financial abuse - Agencies.
Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said today he had recently raised the matter with minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, who did not object to the proposed idea.
"The previous government was offered the city status, but did not want to take it up," Lim said at a press conference after the swearing-in of MPPP councillors for the 2010 term at the City Hall here.
He said the conferment of city status for the whole island was important, especially since George Town had already been recognised by Unesco as a historic city.
State Local Government Committee chairman and Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who was also present, said city status would bring added benefits to the island residents.
For example, as a City Hall, the island’s local government would have more powers in managing public roads, as stipulated under the Road Transport Act 1987. Currently, many of the roads in Penang are under the purview of the federal Public Works Department.
On the proposed Penang International Convention Centre, Lim said the state had received 21 comments on the project, after the deadline for public feedback ended last Friday.
He stressed that the state understood concerns about traffic around the site which currently houses the Penang International Sports Arena.
He also gave an assurance the MPPP would oversee a traffic impact study for the site, and noted that it already had a multi-level parking facility.
Lim also said the MPPP and Seberang Prai Municipal Council had been directed to start a RM10,000 integrity award for any staff who exposes corruption and financial abuse - Agencies.
