THE Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) will be giving Chai Leng Park Village Community Management Council (MPKK) the right of management for the Chai Leng Park multi-purpose hall in Prai from next year.
Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy said he agreed with the MBSP for not extending the land lease and the right of management for the multi-purpose hall to the current tenant, Chai Leng Park Residents Association (Persatuan Penduduk-Penduduk Taman Chai Leng).
The land lease, which was supposed to have been expired on Aug 31 this year, has been extended to Dec 31 this year. This means the association now has to return the management and ownership of the hall to the city council.
Ramasamy, who is also the Prai assemblyman, said since the past few years, there have been numerous complaints from the residents and the public there about the association.
“This includes the hall rental price that is considered overpriced by many.
“The residents of Chai Leng Park also reserve the right to know everything related to the hall management, including the financial matters. It is not the exclusive right of any individual or group. However, they are left in the dark.
“Thus, the decision made by MBSP is timely to restore the rights of the people to the people,” Ramasamy told a press conference at his Prai service centre today.
Also present were MBSP councillors David Marshel and Jason Raj.
It is understood that the Chai Leng Park Residents Association has been granted the land lease deal by MBSP since Aug 21, 1987 for a period of 25 years until Aug 20, 2012.
The association then received an extension for another five years, from Aug 21, 2012 until Aug 20, 2017.
MBSP then gave another three years of extension for the association, from Aug 21, 2017 until Aug 31, 2020.
According to Ramasamy, the original deal of the land lease between MBSP and the association was supposed to be for 25 years only.
“However the city council has decided to extend the land lease and the right of management to the association until 33 years (2020) for the benefit of the public.
“And it has never been the intention of the state government and the city council to grant absolute rights for Chai Leng Park Residents Association to own the hall.
“So, I hope they can understand this,” he added.
Ramasamy also said MBSP representatives had already met him and Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to explain the matter.
“And we collectively agreed that the new land lease deal and the right of management will be given to the Chai Leng Park MPKK.
“It is also in line with the Penang government’s policy to give priority to the MPKK in terms of the management of public hall in the state.
“In order to ensure transparency and fairness to all, a Management Corporation (MC) will be formed and it will involve the members of the local organisation or association, including the Chai Leng Park Residents Association.
“Any issues related to the hall management will be discussed and decided together through the MC,” he said.
According to Ramasamy, once the new tenant is appointed, the hall rental rates will be reviewed and adjusted.
“We will ensure the new rates will be as affordable as possible and fair to everyone because previously it was reported that the low rates were only given to the members of Chai Leng Park Residents Association. So, we want to prevent this from happening again.
“After all, the public hall should be used for public purposes and not only for profit,” he added.
Ramasamy said the Penang government has also planned to upgrade the Chai Leng Park multi-purpose hall for the convenience of the residents there.
Story and pix by Riadz Akmal