Penang includes mitigation plans at flood hotspots under 2040 structure plan

Penang’s draft Structure Plan 2040 includes proposals to upgrade flood hotspots and install pumps in certain areas, state Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said today. — Facebook pic

By Opalyn Mok

First Published: Tuesday, 10 Nov 2026 1:49 PM MYT

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 10 — Penang’s draft Structure Plan 2040 includes proposals to upgrade flood hotspots and install pumps in certain areas, state Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said today.

He said the proposed measures included the installation of flood mitigation infrastructure at selected locations.

“I believe that under the Structure Plan 2040, we also have plans to look at hotspot areas where upgrades have been proposed.

“These include the installation of screw pumps and submersible pumps in certain areas,” he told reporters after he was asked about the state’s plans to mitigate flooding, including recent flooding in an industrial area in Bayan Lepas.

He also said state exco Zairil Khir Johari has several flood mitigation projects in his portfolio to resolve flooding in hotspots in the state.

Asked whether uneven urban planning could be contributing to flash floods, H’ng said he believed most developments on both the island and mainland complied with the conditions of their planning permission.

He added that these projects have complied with strict conditions before obtaining approvals for earthworks and building plans.

He said developers needed to meet the stipulated conditions to obtain a Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC).

“If they are found to have breached the conditions, the local authorities have the right to withhold permission for their architects to issue the CCC,” he said.

H’ng said local authorities had the right to act if developers were found not to have complied with the conditions.