Penang people should have a say in Pulau Jerejak development

GEORGE TOWN: The people of Penang should have a say in how Pulau Jerejak, an island off the Penang island, is developed according to the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT).

PHT honorary secretary Ben Wisemen said the island was part of the history and heritage of the state.

He said Pulau Jerejak was “more than just an island to be developed” and urged the people to make their voices heard during a forum on the matter this Saturday at the Penang Institute.

“We want to present the case that Pulau Jerejak is a state asset and all development should be done with the engagement of the public,” he said in a press conference today.

In November last year, UDA Holdings Bhd reportedly entered into a joint-venture agreement with Q Islands Development (QID) to redevelop Jerejak Rainforest Resort and Spa and 32.37ha of land surrounding it into a mixed development.

The development reportedly will have a bridge linking Pulau Jerejak to the main island of Penang, 1,200 residential units, a theme park, a marina, four and five-star hotels and a cycling track.

Agreeing with Wisemen was teacher turned local historian Mike Gibby who said the island was part of the history of the Straits Settlements (Penang, Malacca and Singapore).

He said the colonial authorities initially wanted to site the present Fort Cornwallis there but did not do so due to costs.

Gibby said the colonial administration then used the island as a quarantine center and those wanting to enter Penang island had to be vaccinated there first.

He said the island was then turned into a leper colony under the British, a refugee center after World War II, a tuberculosis quarantine center, a maximum security prison post-1969, a shipyard and finally a resort.