Sunday March 10, 2013

Residents angry over ‘Moulmein Rise’

By WINNIE YEOH
winnie@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: Traders and residents living near the Pulau Tikus market are fuming over a 27-storey commercial project in Lengkok Moulmein.

The closure of a car park located on the project site is said to be disrupting their daily lives along Jalan Pasar and the Jalan Moulmein area.

A protest, led by Penang Citizens’ Awareness (Chant Group) member Yan Lee, was held yesterday.

He said the people there were affected by the construction of the project called “Moulmein Rise” as there was now limited car park space for the market goers.

“There used to be about 100 bays available but now the place has been sealed off,” he said.

He also questioned why the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) had not arranged for a temporary car park with the developer.

“Traders have complained that their business had dropped almost 50% on some days since the open space car park was closed last month for the construction,” he claimed.

He also claimed that the residents had not received any feedback.

“They should be notified. It is their right to object to the project.”

The developer had announced that they would construct a 90-lot basement car park for the public.

The project comprises of a four-level commercial block as well as 84 high-end commercial suites.

Belleview Group managing director Datuk Sonny Ho said the contractors were rushing to complete the four-level podium block and basement car park within a year.

He explained that the basement car park was an extra effort by the company to accommodate the needs of the people.

A cashier at a cafe here, Nor Sheila Mansur, 53, claimed that there had been fewer customers since construction began.

“They stop coming due to limited parking space,” she said.

A frequent visitor to the market, retiree K. Sundram, 56, said he was now compelled to take a 20-minute walk from his home to the market instead of driving due to the ongoing construction work.

“I am not against it but please make sure that the public carpark is managed by MPPP and not by the building management to avoid high parking fees.”

There were also other residents and traders who were not against the project.

Ooi, a fruits seller at Jalan Pasar said though his businesses was affected, he believed it would pick up once it is completed.

A resident in Jalan Moulmein, Jenni Khoo, said she hoped property prices here would soar in the future.

News

Sunday March 10, 2013

Residents angry over ‘Moulmein Rise’

By WINNIE YEOH winnie@thestar.com.my

By WINNIE YEOH
winnie@thestar.com.my