Penang Watch

PGCC imbroglio: Turf Club breaks silence, refutes allegations
May 24, 08 5:23pm www.malaysiakni.com

Penang Turf Club committee sued
Soon Li Tsin | May 23, 08 4:40pm www.malaysiakini.com

The Penang Turf Club (PTC) committee members and several others are being sued by its members over the deal made with developer Abad Naluri Sdn Bhd to develop the controversial Penang Global City Centre (PGCC).

The legal action - commenced by Tan Kok Ping and Lee Choon Hoe in their own capacity and on behalf of all club members - was filed today at the Penang High Court.

Teng: Rezoning does not restrict other plans
Himanshu Bhatt

GEORGE TOWN (May 16, 2008): The disputed change in zoning by the former state administration on land privately earmarked for the Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project does not restrict other plans or ideas from being implemented in the area.

Former state local government committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan refuted claims by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng that the developer had been given leeway due to alteration in zoning from "open space and recreation" to "new development".

"New development can mean any development," Teng, who is also Gerakan vice-president, told a press conference in Wisma Gerakan here today.

Abad Naluri chairman quits; game over for Patrick

            Just heard from a reliable source that Dato Sri Kamal Hashim, the chairman of Abad Naluri, has resigned from his position with immediate effect. Kamal Hashim is presently the northern region director of The Star, which gave the launch of the PGCC by the prime minister last year prominent coverage. It is also believed that the Prime Minister and his family are now distancing themselves from Patrick Lim, whose dealings exposed the BN to stinging criticism in the run-up to the general election - from opposition parties as well as from Mahathir.

Penang Global City Centre developer buys more time but faces funding jam

PENANG, April 7(MALAYSIAN iNSIDER) — The clock has started ticking for Datuk Patrick Lim and his vision of building the Penang Global City Centre on the turf club land in Penang.

The Penang Turf Club today decided that he has until early 2011 to build a new racecourse in Batu Kawan as a replacement for the existing one in Jalan Bukit Gantong. If Abad Naluri, the company in which Lim has a stake, cannot meet the deadline, it will have to pay a penalty of RM10,000 for each day of the delay.

Worse yet, if Abad is unable to meet its obligations, it will have to forfeit whatever payments it has made to the Penang Turf Club.

12th March 2008
TO THE EDITOR - 'Bouquet Catches the Eye'

The PGCC Campaign Group would like to offer our congratulations to DAP, PKR and PAS for their convincing victory and also to Mr Lim Guan Eng for being appointed as Penang's 4th Chief Minister.