GEORGE TOWN: The Botanical Gardens in Penang is well managed and there have been vast improvements. It receives an estimated 1000 visitors per day and is regarded as one of Penang’s many tourist destinations.
Many visitors to Penang have remarked how noticeably cleaner the state is under the Penang Government. “This goes to show how serious the Penang Government and MBPP are when it comes to protecting our natural treasures and prioritising cleanliness,” said MBPP Councilor Syerleena Abdul Rashid.
It was not so long ago, under the Gerakan/Barisan Nasional (BN), that Penang was unfortunately known as “Penang Darul Sampah”, she reminded. “They regrettably allowed a number of tourist destinations to decay.”
Syerleena, who is also DAPSY Bukit Bendera Secretary and DAP Wanita Bukit Bendera Political Education Director, was commenting on Penang Wanita Gerakan acting chief Hartini Tan’s statement on June 23 which allegedly aimed to discredit the management of the Botanical Gardens and the Penang Government.
In Tan’s statement, Syerleena noted, she blamed the management for the garden’s “pathetic state” and likened it to “an abandoned courtyard with unwanted furniture being indiscriminately thrown everywhere.”
“Tan went on further to liken the beautiful garden to a garbage site. This was uncalled for.”
Gerakan, she reminded, has been targeting the MBPP and the Penang Government in the past few months. “It doesn’t come as a surprise that the party would go as far as reporting this as news.” Upon further investigation, she added, “we have ascertained that this allegation, like others made by Gerakan in the past, are baseless”.
It is obvious that Gerakan was trying once again to paint the Penang Government in a negative light, she reiterated, by using Botanical Gardens as a “scapegoat” for their propaganda.
“They have been attacking MBPP and the Penang Government on numerous occasions in the past; making a barrage of baseless claims and this issue was another clear example.”
Under the present administration, she assured, the Botanical Gardens were managed well and there have been vast improvements. “It receives an estimated 1000 visitors per day and is regarded as one of Penang’s many tourist destinations.”
With a rich history dating back to Penang’s colourful colonial past, she continued, the Botanical Gardens is a hotspot for photographers, as a filming location and a popular recreational destination for families and sports enthusiasts. “The Botanical Gardens Management is responsible for the overall upkeep and maintenance of the gardens.”
“A committee, consisting government officials, councilors, field experts and members of the public exists, to oversee important decision making matters and the overall operations. The committee is also responsible to revitalize and improve the Botanical Gardens.”
Under the Penang Government and MBPP, vast improvements have also been made to the existing Youth Park which is now a model for other Local Governments to learn the “ins and outs” of establishing and creating parks, she pointed out.
Additionally, she said, Youth Park was also rated as one of the most active and interactive parks in Malaysia by Jabatan Landskap Negara.- FreeMalaysiaToday
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