MBPP LODGE REPORTS WITH POLICE, MCMC OVER VIRAL VIDEO CONTAINING UNTRUE ALLEGATIONS

GEORGE TOWN, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has lodged a police report regarding the dissemination of a viral video that allegedly contains various untrue accusations concerning the development of shophouses in the Northeast District here.

In a statement, MBPP said a report was also made to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to enable further investigation into the video uploaded by an user on the TikTok application on December 1.

“The video contains various untrue, biased, unfactual, and defamatory accusations against the MBPP. The Council stresses that all statements made in the video are untrue, baseless, and have the potential to mislead the public, besides tarnishing the good name of the MBPP as the Local Authority (PBT).

“The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is currently conducting an investigation into the report lodged by the council, and if any party brings this case to court, the council is ready to face it and give the necessary cooperation,” the statement read today.

MBPP explained that the application for Planning Permission for the development on those lots was submitted by M/s Brilliantcap Holdings Sdn. Bhd. on June 9, 2016.

The statement informed that a written notice was also issued to 10 owners of adjacent lots to inform them of their right to submit objections to the application in accordance with the provisions of Section 21(6) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, but no objections were received by the council until the deadline.

MBPP said the One Stop Centre Committee Meeting (MJOSC) on Feb 21, 2017, approved the application, and the building plan for the project was also approved by the MJOSC on Oct 20, 2021, after all technical departments provided their feedback.

“The Commencement of Work (COW) approval was obtained on Dec 15, 2022, covering the proposal to erect eight units of three-storey shophouses on Jalan Kampung Relau and one block of three-storey shophouses on Lorong Relau 3, located on Lots 1857, 11096, and 6555, Mukim 13, Northeast,” the statement said.

MBPP informed that the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) Report for the development was also approved on Nov 5, 2015, while the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) Approval Plan for the proposed development was obtained on June 28, 2016, which was before the formal approval of the Planning Permission Application was granted by the MJOSC.

MBPP stressed that it remains open to any official queries or discussions and encourages all parties to obtain complete information before making claims on social media.

Last Monday, a TikTok user uploaded a video titled ‘Tiada Perjuangan Tanpa Pengorbanan’ (No Struggle Without Sacrifice), which among other things, questioned MBPP’s action in approving a commercial project adjacent to a residential area.

-- BERNAMA