Residents question Penang over delay in completing coastal nature park

Residents in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, have expressed frustration over the delay in completing a coastal nature park known as Sore Thumb. The park was gazetted by the state government in 2023, but residents claim they have been requesting updates for over four years without receiving any official decisions. Zulfikar Abdul Aziz, chairman of the Residents Association, stated that the residents have been engaging constructively with local authorities, but they are seeking more than just meetings and promises.

The coastal site, adjacent to a public beach, is also located next to a development project where Lot 4658 has received approval. Zulfikar expressed a desire to preserve the trees, coastline, and beach rather than a concrete-based public park. Meanwhile, in a separate matter, low-cost units in Taman Manggis were evicted, with enforcement officials sealing two more units apart from the five already removed last week.

Pannir Selvam Supramaniam, spokesperson for the Taman Manggis residents committee, appealed for a dialogue between the affected residents and the relevant authorities before any further evictions. The scheme, intended for impoverished families, offers temporary accommodation for up to three years before resettling them into affordable public housing, with a waiting list reported to be up to 1,000.