The Penang government will seek clarification on the status of the Taman Manggis land, owned by a private company, amid growing public concern over the lack of development at the site.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state administration would obtain the latest information from the landowner to determine their plans for the parcel, which was sold to the company several years ago.
“We will seek an update from them. The Taman Manggis land was indeed sold to the company concerned.
“As of now, we have not received any further information, although I believe planning approval was granted at one point in time. However, we have not seen any progress on the project.
“Since the land belongs to them, they have the right to commence development whenever they are ready. Nevertheless, we want to see the project completed because that was the purpose of the land sale in the first place, which is to develop a facility that would benefit the local community,” Chow told reporters when asked about the matter today.
Chow also acknowledged that the site has remained dormant despite previous plans and approvals, adding that the state government hopes the landowner will move forward with the development as intended.
The issue resurfaced recently after Penang Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong urged the state government to explain why the site has remained idle for years.
Oh noted that the strategically located land was originally earmarked for public housing and affordable housing projects, raising questions over its prolonged inactivity and the lack of clarity surrounding its future.
The Taman Manggis land has long been a subject of public and political debate, with concerns over whether it will ultimately deliver the intended benefits to the surrounding community.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Muhammad Iqbal Hamdan
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud