Residents question Penang over delay in completing coastal nature park

RESIDENTS in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, have questioned why the state government is slow to respond to their request to see the completion of a coastal nature park known as the Sore Thumb.

Residents Association chairman Zulfikar Abdul Aziz, during a recent demonstration, together with Penang Forum executive committee member Dr Lim Mah Hui, said they submitted a detailed proposal for the park on Feb 10 but had yet to receive an official decision despite repeated queries to the state government.

Zulkifar claimed that the residents have engaged constructively for more than four years with the local authorities.

"We are asking for more than just another meeting and another promise,” he said in a statement.

Sore Thumb is located next to a public beach in Tanjung Bungah, a beachfront suburb located between George Town and the tourism belt of Batu Ferringhi.

The coastal site is also next to Lot 4658, where approval has been given for a development project.

Penang had apparently gazetted Sore Thumb as a green lung in 2023, and the developer was required to build a public park before proceeding with the development.

To this, Zulfikar said residents wanted the trees, coastline and beach preserved instead of what they described as a concrete - based public park.

Meanwhile, on another issue, Taman Manggis residents committee spokesperson Pannir Selvam Supramaniam has claimed that enforcement officials from the state housing board sealed two additional low-cost units, apart from five done last week.

He appealed to the board to suspend any more evictions until a dialogue can be held between the affected residents and the relevant authorities.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had earlier mentioned that the state was forced to do so after issuing countless reminders to the tenants at Taman Manggis.

The scheme is a temporary accommodation for impoverished families for up to three years before they can choose any of the affordable public housing units, which the state wants to resettle them into.

"The eviction is the last resort, but the tenants need to cooperate," said Chow.

The waiting list for poor families to enter Taman Manggis is reported to be up to 1,000. – September 10, 2026