Phase5of Komtar
projectmaybe
scrapped
news without borders
05
theSun onmonday | april 11, 2011
ByHimanshu Bhatt
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN:
The Penang government is looking
into scrapping the final phase of the Komtar
development initiative whichwas conceived during the
70s as an ambitious “urban renewal” project for the
city.
Sources told
theSun
that the Penang
Development Corporation (PDC), which owns
the land on behalf of the state, is looking into
radically amending the original plans for a
high-density, multi-storey commercial
development on the site whichmakes up
Phase 5 of the long-termKomtar project.
It is learnt that the PDC has
commissioned a study on how the area,
which includes part of the historic
Prangin Canal and several pre-war
shophouses, can instead be conserved
for its cultural and heritage character.
Plans are also afoot to develop an
urban park, with the canal rehabilitated as
an arterial waterway, so as to provide a
new green lung for the city, the sources said.
The latest development comes on the heels
of criticisms against the PDCwhen a block of
old shop-houses were recently demolished
after a commissioned study had been done
>PDC studyinghow
buildings and canal in
area canbe conserved
Safety certs for food items
imported fromJapan
byMeena L. Ramadas
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA:
Imported food items from
Japan would need to display a radioactivity
certificate that ensures the items are safe for
consumption beginning from April 15, Science,
Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri
Dr Maximus Ongkili said.
He said in a statement Japan will issue the
certificate for all food items exported fromJapan
as a safety guarantee. The move was made fol-
lowing radioactivity leakage at the nuclear
power plant in Fukushima prefecture after the
recent earthquake and tsunami.
Maximus said that analysis of several food
samples from Fukushima indicated that spinach
and other leafy vegetables contained levels of
radioactive Iodin-131 andCaesium-134/Caesium-
137 above legal limits set by the Japanese au-
thorities.
He also said the distribution and consumption
of several food items in the Fukushima, Ibaraki
and Chiba prefectures among other areas have
been blocked. The HealthMinistry is monitoring
the food items imported through a system called
Food Safety Information of Malaysia.
“Until now, 105 food samples fromJapanwere
analysed for radioactive content and were found
to comply with authorised limits,” he said.
“The Health Ministry would like to inform the
public that they need not worry about the safety
of food items from Japan as the ministry will not
compromise on it,” he added.
Further information on the new requirement
is available at http://fsq.moh.gov.my.
on the condition of the physical structures in
the area.
The demolition also followed the
controversial tearing down of the historic and
well-known ‘Sia Boey’ market on the Phase 5
land a fewyears ago despite it having existed
for about a century.
The Komtar project has seen several delays
since its five phases were envisaged about 35
years ago, replacing the numerous heritage
buildings and traditional residents who
inhabited the sprawling inner-city area.
The project also forced the disappearance of
a huge cultural enclave as four popular cinemas
– the Paramount, Royal, Eastern and Capitol
theatres – were demolished.
The first phase comprising a podiumblock
was completed in 1978, followed by the iconic
65-storey Komtar Tower and the Geodesic
Dome whichwere built 10 years later.
The subsequent phases over the next 20
years have included a five-star hotel and three
more shoppingmall blocks whose construction
have been dogged by a series of setbacks.
The final Phase 5 has seen significant
opposition as several quarters point to frequent
traffic congestions caused by the high-density
commercial activities that have sprung up
there.
Phase 5 also lies along the very edge of the
Unesco-listed heritage zone of George Town.
The area was in fact part of the original heritage
zone proposed for conservation before the site
meant for listing to the international bodywas
downsized.
Sources said by cancelling the Phase 5 plan
of another high-risemodern commercial
project, the authorities are keeping the option
open for the rehabilitated area to be included in
the Unesco heritage zone in the future.
MASRY CHE
ANI/thesun
Boats
may once
again ply
the idyllic
Prangin
Canal
being
earmarked
for a new
rehabili-
tation
exercise
for
Penang’s
inner-city.
RajaMudaPerlisproposes a soldier inevery family
KANGAR:
The RajaMuda of Perlis has proposed
that at least one member of every family nation-
wide become a soldier as it is one of the most
honourable and noble professions,.
Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail said
the move was also in line with the theme, ‘One
Family, One Soldier’, introduced by the Armed
Forces to encourage the public to join themilitary
service.
“To be willing to sacrifice for King and country
is a commitment that shouldbe inculcated in each
individual to ensure peace and stability of the
country.
“The people should be proud if one of their
family members join the army,” Tuanku Syed
Faizuddin, who is also 504th Territorial Army
regiment commander, said at the opening of the
army training programme at Kampung Seberang
Ramai near here yerterday.
Seven territorial army officers and 93 person-
nel of various ranks took part in a month-long
training. – Bernama