A PROPOSED high-rise condominium project in Batu Ferringhi, Penang, have put some Mount Pleasure residents on edge and when backhoes began plying Jalan Low Yat, the panic button was pushed.

Several residents including a number of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) expatriates, ventured up a hilly trail there yesterday to check for signs of construction.

“After New Year’s Day, we noticed bulldozers clearing the jungle trail which is normally overgrown.

“We are worried that the road is being cleared to pave the way for development in the area,” said MM2H resident Claire Wilson, 67, who stays in Seaview Garden on Mount Pleasure.

The area concerned separates Mount Pleasure from the Miami Green Resort Condominium and lies further up the road (leading to Batu Ferringhi) from a 37-storey condominium project proposed for Shamrock beach.

Miami Green resident Ron Buszek, 64, who was seen hiking yesterday, said the clearing of the trail started about two to three weeks ago.

“I’ve been hiking up this trail every day for the last two years.

“The trail is actually the size you see it now (which is a couple meters wide), but it was overgrown.

“The workers normally just clear some of the weeds, but two to three weeks ago, they brought in a backhoe for the first time,” said the American.

Several workers in the area claimed that the stepped-up efforts to clear the jungle trail were being conducted by the Penang Water Supply Corporation Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) to facilitate works on a large water tank located there, but a check with the water company revealed that it was not conducting any works in the area.

When contacted, Penang Local Govern-ment and Traffic Management Com- mittee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said he did not have the information on hand about any ongoing projects in Batu Ferringhi.

Penang Municipal Council development planning department acting director Khoo Boo Soon said in the interest of fairness, records for approved projects needed to be checked in person.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/1/28/north/5560862&sec=North

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