Moving Forward with GBI

Green Building Index

In keeping pace with the demands of modern living, designers and builders equally reflect their concerns about the environment through incorporating a voluntary green rating scheme which is managed by a board of registered architects and engineers. The Green Building Index has a total of 290 buildings as at June 2012 and nine townships registered for certification throughout the nation. 

According to the Northern Chapter President of Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) and also Penang Green Council committee member, Mr. Lawrence Lim, Penang currently has 30 buildings applying for certification while 10 buildings are on provisionary certification.

“Penang was the first state in Malaysia to embrace the Green Building Index,” he added. Among the more notable developments that have applied for the GBI are The Light Project by IJM, The Setia Greens by SP Setia, Brooke Residence and Penaga Hotel, a heritage hotel in George Town. 

“Despite the premium, all terrace houses under the Setia Green project are sold,” said Khoo Teik Chong indicating an increased price of about 10% - 15% as compared to non-GBI certified buildings.

The terrace houses were sold between RM900,000 and RM1 million when it was first launched by SP Setia two years ago and is now worth about RM1.6 million. 

Khoo, the General Manager of SP Setia also mentioned that the sPICE project in Bayan Baru is GBI compliant as well. 

Architectural designs that are ecologically friendly maximizes the use of natural ventilation and natural lighting to save on electricity usage while minimizing environmental impacts. Features include fittings that save energy and resources like cool roofing, solar energy panels, water efficiency gadgets, rainwater harvesting devices and proper waste management.

There are four categories of classification for the GBI – Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. These ratings depend on the number of points awarded to the building after inspection. Developers are also encouraged to build green buildings. 

 “We encourage GBI by giving incentives. But, to achieve GBI needs additional costs, so developers target commercial buildings mostly,” replied Wong Hon Wai, the State Housing Exco through a text reply when asked if developers of Low-Cost and Low-Medium Cost flats would be required to obtain GBI certifications in the future. 

However, IJM General Manager, Toh Chin Leong says that the incentives given to their counterparts in Singapore are much more attractive as direct rebates are given to the developers for using green building materials like reconstructed wood, low VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and specially prepared glass. 

Paying to Save the Environment 

Toh also emphasized the need to step-up efforts to educate the public on saving the environment. 

“Building green buildings are one thing, but maintaining them is another,” he said, referring to landed property owners who eventually opt to cement their compound for more parking space. He also says that the government could also make it a policy to make Green Buildings compulsory for all future buildings.

Justifying the need to pay to save the environment is contradictory. However, green is the new buzzword for this century. It serves as a reminder for us to take care of our surroundings and to live as harmoniously as possible with the environment. Co-existence and balance between nature and development is our only way to sustainable living. 

Article Published in Penang Green Council webpage.

Press Statement by Chow Kon Yeow on Cheah Chin Lee

YB Chow Kon Yeow
Level 52 Komtar
10503 Penang
04-2619888
chowkonyeow@penang.gov.my

PRESS STATEMENT
11 October, 2012

In support of the family of the late Cheah Chin Lee (died in police custody):
Police Yet to Inform Courts of Chin Lee’s Death
¬¬
It is now close to two months after Cheah Chin Lee died in the Police’s custody. I am here today with Chin Lee’s family members who are still waiting for answers. Sadly, despite numerous promises made to the family, the Police have been unable to show any progress for the family to have faith in their efforts.

The family’s lawyer wrote to the Magistrates Court of George Town, Penang to enquire about initiating inquest proceedings and received a reply from the court registrar on 25 September, 2012 saying that the courts have not received a Sudden Death Report regarding Chin Lee’s death on 13 August.

Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Code requires, “when any person dies while in the custody of the police or in a mental hospital or prison, the officer who had the custody of that person or was in charge of that mental hospital or prison, as the case may be, shall immediately give intimation of such death to the nearest Magistrate, and the Magistrate or some other Magistrate shall, in the case of a death in the custody of the police, and in other cases may, if he thinks expedient, hold an inquiry into the cause of death.”

I would like to emphasise that it is the statutory duty of the Police to inform the courts of a death of a person in their care and that this is required to be done immediately. It is now close to two months since Chin Lee’s death and I would like to ask if the Police are deliberately delaying the matter. What excuses do the police have for the family this time? If the police cannot even do something as simple as following a statutory procedure, how can the police claim to be conducting an “independent” investigation over the death of a person who was in their care?

I hereby urge the Penang CPO Abd Rahim Hanafi to take responsibility and explain the delay over this matter. I do not expect more empty promises to be made, but instead in the soonest possible submit the Sudden Death Report to the Magistrates Court as required under S334 of the CPC. The Police must not be seen to hinder the family’s quest for the truth behind Chin Lee’s death.



Change | For a Better Malaysia.
Chow Kon Yeow
Penang State DAP Chairperson

KENYATAAN AKHBAR KMPP Isu Tanah Tang Hak Ju

KENYATAAN AKHBAR KONGRES MELAYU PULAU PINANG, (KMPP)

Tarikh: 27hb Januari 2012

Kepada: PIHAK MEDIA TEMPATAN.

Tajuk: ISU TANAH TANG HAK JU, “Barisan Nasional Berhutang kepada Rakyat
Pulau Pinang”.


Kenyataan akhbar ini dibuat oleh pihak KMPP adalah mewakili rakyat Pulau Pinang yang terpaksa menanggung wang pampasan RM500,000.00 akibat daripada kecuaian sehingga menyebabkan penipuan keatas seorang individu yang dikenali sebagai Tan Hak Ju. Keputusan oleh Mahkamah Rayuan pada 10/1/2012 tersebut jelas bahawa Kerajaan Negeri sekarang terpaksa menanggung liabiliti yang ditinggalkan oleh kerajaan terdahulu (Barisan Nasional) dimana rakyat negeri ini harus membuka mata bagaimana rakusnya dan licik pentadbiran Kerajaan sebelum ini sehingga mengheret rakyat negeri ini bersama menyelami kemelut kes ini.

Walaupun pampasan telah dikurangkan dan sekalipun ianya bernilai RM1.00, ianya tetap wang rakyat yang menjadi pembayar cukai. Janganlah pula Pimpinan Barisan Nasional negeri ini cuba berlakon alim sekalipun jumlah asal pampasan tersebut adalah RM40 juta kini telah dikurangkan kepada RM500,000.00, maka kesalahan lampau telah diampuni. Rakyat negeri ini tidaklah semudah itu untuk diperbodohkan atas permainan silap mata politik. Perlu diingatkan bahawa kes tersebut masih ada ruang rayuan. Berkemungkinan Tan Hak Ju akan mengemukakan rayuannya dan terdapat kemungkinan jumlah pampasan berkenaan akan ditambah namun masih menjadi teka-teki.

Dalam senario berkenaan berasaskan kepada fakta kes ada kemungkinan sekiranya mantan Ketua Menteri dan Timbalan Ketua Menteri ketika itu dapat dengan beraninya tampil memberi respon dihadapan Jawatankuasa Siasatan, kemungkinan soal penyelewengan dan penipuan menerusi scandal yang amat kontrovesi itu tidak perlu berpanjangan. Persoalannya kenapa kedua-dua saksi penting berkenaan tidak berani tampil untuk memberi respon kepada Jawatankuasa Siasatan tersebut? Bak kata perpatah “Berani kerana benar dan Takut kerana salah”. Dalam konteks ini rakyat negeri ini perlu membuka mata dan berfikir secara rasional terhadap insiden berkenaan.

Pihak KMPP percaya terdapat transaksi keatas ikatan dokumen tanah berkenaan oleh Pegawai Kerajaan yang bersekongkol dengan pemimpin dalam Kerajaan Barisan Nasional dahulu serta telah menyalahgunakan kedudukan mereka. Maka situasi sebegitu dilihat sebagai amat memalukan. Justeru itu pihak KMPP mendesak agar satu siasatan dapat dijalankan oleh Kerajaan Negeri dan seterusnya mengenakan tindakan terhadap Pegawai Kerajaan terbabit tanpa memilih bulu. Tindakan tersebut amat perlu bagi dijadikan tauladan supaya episod yang sama tidak akan berulang lagi.



Oleh yang demikian, pihak KMPP berharap pemimpin Barisan Nasional Negeri Pulau Pinang terutama sekali Pengerusi Jawatankuasa BN Pulau Pinang iaitu Dato Dr. Teng Hock Nan bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya kepada seluruh rakyat negeri ini keatas pembayaran wang pampasan tersebut. Isu tersebut sudah diputuskan oleh mahkamah bahawa “Subject Matter” merupakan satu kecuaian dan penipuan yang telah ditinggalkan oleh Kerajaan terdahulu. Dalam kenyataan yang tanpa prasangka ini jangan cuba sama sekali untuk mengheret rakyat negeri ini bermain politik licik bagi tujuan menutup kesilapan sendiri.

Pandangan ikhlas pihak KMPP adalah lebih berfaedah bagi pemimpin Barisan Nasional dinegeri ini mencari formula bagaimana untuk meningkatkan populariti mereka demi bagi meraih sokongan rakyat yang semakin terhakis daripada mencari kesilapan orang lain dimana akhirnya memakan diri sendiri. Hentikanlah sandiwara politik demi bagi mengemis simpati daripada rakyat negeri ini. Hero yang sudah kecundang dalam istilah politik hanya dikenang sebagai artifak sejarah sahaja. Apa yang rakyat perlukan adalah sebuah Kerajaan yang dapat menjamin kebajikan mereka dan bukannya mendatangkan liabiliti kepada mereka.


Sekian, terima kasih.

KONGRES MELAYU PULAU PINANG



………………………………
RAHMAD BIN ISAHAK
PRESIDEN KMPP,
(H/P No: 019-472 8509)