Penang councillor defends Gurney Wharf project

GEORGE TOWN: A Penang Island City Council councillor today defended the Gurney Wharf project at Gurney Drive.

Councillor Chris Lee said the present Pakatan Harapan (PH) government was trying to restore the seafront through the Gurney Wharf project.

He said the decision to fill the area with rocks causing the beach to disappear was taken when the Barisan Nasional (BN) governed the state.

He said the popular seaside front became filled with mudflats and was a sad sight for many years due.

"The present government is trying to restore the ugliness that was left," he said in a press conference.

The project, to bring back a beach to the area, is expected to be completed by 2020.

It will be on land to be reclaimed by Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd (TPD), a subsidiary of developer Eastern and Oriental Berhad (E&O).

The masterplan encompasses four district character areas which are the seaside retail, food and beverages area, the water gardens, beach and a coastal grove.

Last week, Penang Gerakan vice chairman Oh Tong Keong called upon the state to build low-cost housing on part of the land reclaimed for the project.

He said there were land lots in the plan identified as government reserve and so should be used to benefit the people.