PENANG Island City Council’s (MBPP) development planning committee will meet in two weeks’ time to discuss a proposal to reintroduce the ‘block plan’ policy to help villagers who cannot afford the exorbitant consultancy fees when they want to build their own ‘kampung’ houses.
A ‘block plan’ is a pre-designed plan for those who want to build ‘kampung’ houses, and it is believed to have been in use by the council before 2013.
MBPP councillor Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (pic) said that the owner of a ‘kampung’ house needs to submit the building plan and application for planning permission to the council before building the house.
“The architect, engineer, surveyor and consultant costs are going to be high. Those who cannot afford the high fees usually resort to building their village houses illegally,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He said that the consultancy fees could be anything up to RM50,000.
“I proposed the idea of reintroducing the ‘block plan’ policy during the council’s One-Stop Centre meeting early last year, and the MBPP mayor Datuk Patahiyah Ismail said that the proposal would be discussed in the development planning committee meeting.
“Several meetings have been held to discuss the technical issues of the plan,” he said.
Muhammad Bakhtiar said that the proposal would be tabled in the full council meeting once the development planning committee has agreed to it.
“To my knowledge, the ‘block plan’ policy was practised by the council prior to 2013.
“It was abused by some people and then stopped.
“We are looking at three to four designs under the ‘block plan’.
“The owner just needs to choose the design they prefer and pay a standard fee, which is way lower than the consultancy fees.
“Then they can just build the house according to the design.
“They are not required to submit the application for planning permission if they choose to build according to the ‘block plan’, which means the owner can save on the consultancy fees,” he added.
Muhammad Bakhtiar said the proposal was only for those living in the rural areas.
“We are still discussing and nothing has been finalised.
“The council is concerned that people may abuse the ‘block plan’ policy like before. Previously, some people agreed to build according to the ‘block plan’ but eventually did not do so,” he said.
Muhammad Bakhtiar believes there should be enforcement against those who abuse the policy instead of repealing it and penalising those who really need it.
