Penang Botanic Gardens Forum 2008 : The Future of the Penang Botanic Gardens

The current developments in the Penang Botanic Gardens recently have affected many stakeholders, including regular users, tourist and the State Government. In 2004, the Gardens were expanded from its original 72 acres to over 590 acres, covering the surrounding valley. However, planning and development projects were carried out on ad hoc basis, causing incoherence and incongruity to the original plans of the Gardens. After hearing the grouses and dissatisfaction from the public, the Friends of the Penang Botanic Gardens Society (FOPBGS), together with Malaysia Nature Society (MNS), Penang Heritage Trust (PHT), and Socio-Economic & Environmental Research Institute (SERI) have decided to organise this forum to address the issue, as well as to gather a more comprehensive plan for the Gardens. This forum also served as a platform for the public to gather in depth knowledge of the Gardens, as well as to give input to how the Gardens should be developed.

Held on the 13^th of December 2008 in Wawasan Open University, this forum saw politicians and the public, gathering together to protect the Gardens from improper development projects. The forum was officiated by YB Tuan Law Heng Kiang, State Executive Council Member for Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage, representing the Chief Minister himself. The forum was also attended by YB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, the State Executive Council Member for Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment, State assemblymen YB Tuan Jason Ong Khan Lee, and Member of Parliament, YB Liew Chin Tong.

Academics, representatives from government agencies, members from the organising societies, the media, as well as members of the public made up the rest of the participants, eager to make their views and opinion heard.

The forum started from presentations from speakers from various fields such as Dato’ Dr Leong Yueh Kwong, CEO of SERI and member of the Penang Botanic Gardens Management Committee; Prof Dr Wong Khoon Meng, director of Rimba Ilmu (Knowledge Gardens) of University Malaya; Dr Liew Kon Wui, founding member of the Friends of the Penang Botanic Gardens Society, and culminated with the presentation of the development plans from the director of the Penang Botanic Gardens herself, Ms Nor Wahida Hassan.

The second half of the forum saw a discussion panel headed by Mr Ahmad Chik, with Mr Kanda Kumar and Dato’ Tengku Idaura Tengku Ibrahim, deliberating on the development issues in the Gardens. From the panel discussion, three resolutions were formulated to urge the authorities to reconsider before proceeding with the development plans. The resolution also urged for the commissioning of a master plan to be developed a and open for public feedback so that proper development projects to be implemented for the benefit of the State, the Gardens, and the people of Penang.

The event ended at 1.30pm, leaving the public with a glimmer of hope for a better Penang Botanic Gardens. This event was covered by various local dailies the following day.

The following are the report and presentations presented during the Forum.

Penang Botanic Gardens Forum - Report

Presentation by Dr Leong Yueh Kwong

Presentation by Prof Dr Wong Khoon Meng

Presentation by Dr Liew Kon Wui

Presentation by Ms Nor Wahida Hassan

For the full report from the review panel on the development and management of the Penang Botanic Gardens (November 2007), please click here